Get Teenage Queerness. Negotiating Heteronormativity In The ...

Queer criticism examines artifacts for essential identity categories. Because queer theorists challenge the notion of a static, essential, or natural identity, a queer critique must focus on how identities are represented in the artifact. Queer criticism acknowledges that all human beings are, by their nature, unique.

The term heteronormativity was coined in 1991 by Michael Warner in one of the key collections on queer theory.

As far as the origin of the term itself, heteronormativity was popularized in 1991 by Michael Warner, a social theorist and professor at Yale. His work built off Gayle Rubin's ideas about the “sex/gender system” and the poet Adrienne Rich's work labeling the idea of “compulsory heterosexuality.”

Heteronormativity describes the belief that heterosexuality is and should be the preferred system of sexuality and informs the related male or female, binary understanding of gender identity and expression.

Heteronormativity is the assumption that the “default,” or “correct” sexual orientation is straight (heterosexual). It assumes that “normal” relationships exist only between a man and a woman. In a heteronormative society, anything outside of these norms is considered abnormal or inferior.

Heteronormativity is the assumption that the “default,” or “correct” sexual orientation is straight (heterosexual). It assumes that “normal” relationships exist only between a man and a woman. In a heteronormative society, anything outside of these norms is considered abnormal or inferior.

Heteronormativity describes the hegemonial social norm which justifies the binary gender norm as biologic by assigning gender on the basis of physical aspects. The binary gender norm only recognises two genders, male and female, and defines heterosexuality, the sexual attraction between those two genders, as natural.

One of the key concepts in queer theory is the idea of “heteronormativity,” which pertains to “the institutions, structures of understanding, and practical orientations that make heterosexuality seem not only coherent—that is, organized as a sexuality—butalso privileged” (Berlant).

Heteronormativity is what makes heterosexuality seem coherent, natural and privileged. It involves the assumption that everyone is 'naturally' heterosexual, and that heterosexuality is an ideal, superior to homosexuality or bisexuality.