Instructor:
Dr. Lalia Hekima Kiburi
Winter
Quarter 2014
During our last class
presentations, one of your classmates introduced the concept of homonormativity
(see the website below for a detailed definition) as a social practice that
impacts the process of same sex dating and mating across cultural lines. Homonormativity does not “assume an
individual is gay, but it assumes that
queer people want to be just like heteronormative people.” Reflecting on course readings and discussion questions
addressed during our presentations, in what ways can you substantiate this
thesis? In what ways would you
dispute it?
http://dismantlinghomonormativity.weebly.com/what-is-homonormativity.html
The discussions we've had in class about media and the society, has given me the impression that "norms" and "standards" the majority has provided in society heavily influences an individual of the community. For example, many have mentioned in class that the environment they have exposed to has shaped their image of beauty and attraction. Thus, I feel living in a heteronormative society, it is hard for any individual to imagine a society based on any other sexuality orientated community, and this stands true for people of different sexual orientation as well. I feel that even if people have different preferences for attraction, the overarching system of heteronormativity strongly influences them to adapt to the system. In many cases, this is not as drastic as to impose a change their sexuality - forcing heterosexuality on these people - but it has the impact on these individuals, in which they seek a homosexual (or any other orientation) relationship which is molded by heteronormative standards.
ReplyDeleteFrom the website I gathered that homonormativity is the expectation that all non heterosexual people will behave in a manner that “mimics heteronormative standards.” Heteronormativity is defined as the belief that all people will act in accordance with their sex. To be more thorough, it is the belief that someone’s sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender presentation, and other relationship choices (including race of partner) will line up and adhere to the most “normal” and “accepted” combinations. From this it can be argued that homosexual people would want to act according to heteronormative beliefs to avoid further persecution and judgement. In the context of this seminar on dating and mating across cultural lines, I would venture to discuss this in terms of interracially dating in the non-heterosexual community. I can dispute this argument by using a statistic from the 2010 census: 20.6 percent, or more than one in five same-sex couples, were interracial or inter-ethnic, compared with 18.3 percent of straight unmarried couples, and 9.5 percent of straight married couples as reported by the huffington post. This shows that homosexual people deviate significantly from heterosexual people in terms of their willingness to date interracially, supporting the argument that homonormativity is not the end-all-be-all guide of homosexual dating behavior. However, this statistic also supports the argument if we look at the raw numbers. A vast majority of both homosexual and heterosexual couples are monoracial, indicating that homonormative beliefs may have an influence on the dating behaviors of many homosexual people. I think that the reality of the situation is a combination of both of the aforementioned stances. While non-heterosexual people feel less bound to heteronormative conventions of dating, I believe that homonormativity (and heteronormativity) still have significant effects on dating behaviors.
ReplyDeleteOne way I commonly see heteronormativity in popular culture is through film and its reception. The public perception of films that include one or multiple homosexual relationships between characters is particularly concerning; such films are commonly referred to as "gay movies" and are largely characterized by the element of homosexuality rather than the content or artistry of the films themselves. "Brokeback Mountain" and "Blue Is The Warmest Color", both critically acclaimed, were largely referred to by society and media as "that gay cowboy movie" and "that French lesbian movie", respectively. This phenomenon not only dismisses the artistry and vision of the films themselves, but also elucidates the heteronormative mindset of society.
ReplyDeleteHomonormativity appears to be a generalization constructed through the status quo. The definition can be substantiated in the sense that because heteronormative people are representative of the status quo, heteronormative people are considered to be norm. The norm is representative of what is accepted by society, and many tend to strive toward this acceptance. In addition, because the majority of the population is heterosexual, it is understandable that they would assume others wish to be like them for the sake of establishing the feeling of belonging. Despite this, the concept of homonormativity can also be disputed. For the most part, I don’t believe that people who identify as queer wish to be like heteronormative people. They have identified as queer for a reason, and I believe they would desire a society that is accepting of other individuals who identify as queer. The concept of heteronormativity, I feel, is wrong in the sense that to automatically assume everyone is straight implies there is something wrong with being queer (there seems to be a correlation between this assumption and assumptions associated with colorblind racism). I feel that queer individuals would appreciate society not to automatically make the assumption that everyone is straight but rather to have an open mind to the fact that not everyone is, and that is perfectly fine because diversity is beauty within itself.
ReplyDeleteI think that the same thoughts can be applied to the idea of homonormativity as to the idea of interracial relationships. On one hand, it is important to be respectful of homosexual relationships and understand that they are of equal worth as heterosexual relationships. However, it is also important to realize that homosexual relationships are different from heterosexual relationships just as interracial relationships are different from relationships of two people of the same race. A homosexual couple will face different circumstances and challenges than a heterosexual couple, and to expect a homosexual couple to always try to act like a heterosexual couple is unfair. In addition, there are stereotypes that homosexual people act differently than heterosexual people (for example, lesbians acting more masculine or gay men acting feminine), and while in some cases this is true, it is most definitely not an all-encompassing statement. It should not be assumed that all queer people want to be like heteronormative people; instead, people should understand that each relationship is unique, and each person and couple will face unique challenges and experiences. It is important when looking at interracial or homosexual relationships to value the differences in relationships without making assumptions or stereotypes about them.
ReplyDeleteThe social practice of heteronormativity is based on the normalization of set expectations such that men and women are cisgender, heterosexual, and masculine or feminine, respectively. As we discussed in class, heteronormativity is present in different parts of media such as many commercials that solely feature straight couples. I think that the manifestation of heteronormativity in the media leads to exclusionary practices that fail to represent non-cisgender, non-heterosexual people, and/or people with various gender expressions. The thesis that homonormative people, though they may not be heterosexual, want to be like heteronormative people could be substantiated by pointing out that both of these social practices are based on ideas of normalization. Both heteronormativity and homonormativity attempt to establish ideas of “normal” behavior and sexual orientation. I would dispute the heteronormative standards of defining what is socially acceptable and the homonormative adoption of these standards. Instead, in reference to media, I would suggest the involvement of varying people and couples (regardless of their sexual orientations or gender expressions) in a process that supports a widely inclusive rather than normalizing mindset.
ReplyDeleteI would argue that homonormativity is not about members of the LGBT community wanting to be like heteronormative people but is more about equality. People do not want to be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or life choices. This thesis could be substantiated based on the fact that homosexual individuals are typically brought up in a predominantly heterosexual culture and are raised to value the same things, such as marriage and equal rights. Exposure to such values at an early age and then later withdrawal of certain rights upon public identification as a homosexual person may increase feelings of homonormativity; people want what they had before when they were assumed to be heterosexual.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, this thesis could be disputed on the grounds that people with different sexual orientations can regard the same things as valuable independent of what other people might consider valuable. It seems as if this concept of homonormativity is implying that homosexual people only want to do things because heterosexual people do them. On the website provided, some examples of manifestations of homonormativity were fighting for marriage and military rights. The fact that these practices are predominately heterosexual does not decrease the value it would have for the homosexual individual. If heterosexual people stopped valuing marriage, that does not automatically mean that homosexual people would too. Those who oppose homonormativity fail to take into account the reasons why people are fighting for “homonormative” causes, like marriage and equal treatment in the military. It is like saying “I don’t want to get married because that’s what heterosexual people do and it would just devalue the relationship my partner and I have,” which is not the case at all. People (usually) get married as public recognition of their commitment to one another, not because of some bandwagon effect.
Based on the explanation provided on the website, homonormativity is the tendency that “queer people want to be just like heteronormative people.” I feel as if this is not exactly the case, but rather gays do not want to be discriminated against. For example, some view the idea of homosexuals wanting to get married a homonormative practice. However, perhaps gay couples feel as if they should simply be given the same marriage rights as straight couples and that is the reason, rather than a desire to be like heterosexuals. I also think that some gays try to appear heterosexual out of fear rather than desire. For example, in the military and many parts of the country, gay people face violent ridicule from other others forcing them into secrecy. In summary, I do not think gay people want to be like heteronormative people, but do so to avoid complication. I pray for the day where this is not an issue and prejudices and stereotypes can be a notion of the past.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the article, heteronormativity is the concept that individuals of either sex are assumed to be straight and follow traditional dating/mating patterns in society. Meanwhile, homonormativity, is the seen as the concept that same sex couples seek to be more like heteronormative individuals. In our society, heteronormative people are the norm, because the vast majority of individuals are heternormative. Therefore, most people just assume that the sexuality of everyone around them is straight, which in turn creates an exclusion of homosexual individuals in society. For this reason, many homonormative individuals may seek to be like heteronormative individuals in order to reach a level normalization. While it’s not necessarily a drive be normal, it’s seen as a way to avoid discrimination. In our society, there are many factors that support this. For example, in the military there is a “do not ask, do not tell” policy in regards to the sexual affiliation. While this can be seen as being suppressive, it also provides an easy way for homosexual individuals to avoid complications and discrepancy among their peers. Another example is the institute of marriage. Many homosexual couples seek marriage because they want the same rights as heterosexual couples. Although some would argue that their implications for doing so are heteronormative, I feel it’s wrong to treat this as an issue of seeking normalization through marriage. Furthermore, in many popular shows on television, the introduction of homosexual relationships and marriages are now being used to reflect the present changes occurring in our society. With examples such as ABC’s Modern Family, support for homosexual couples shows that society is growing to accept them as part of the norm, thus re-defining the status quo. Overall, I believe that it’s wrong of society to assume that everyone is heternormative and it’s even worse to state that homosexual couples seek to be more heteronormative in order to achieve acceptance. I hope that in the future, our society will learn to be more accepting and set aside sexual affiliation when defining what is normal.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Lai:
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, homonormativity is a social construct that society infringes on the gay community. We think that because we are heterosexual and therefore the dominant sexual orientation, everyone strives to achieve this heteronormative status. But this is not necessarily true and like the dating and mating across cultural lines, I believe that we are put in this contained mindset that pushes us to believe that people all want to live in a culturally restrained community because that is what is consider the norm. There is no reason to believe that homosexuals desire to reach this “heteronormative status.” In all honesty, the only thing I can think of that makes the heteronormative status at all attractive is the privileges we get in not getting judged and micromanaged for our decisions. And for that particular point, I can substantiate the thesis because this privilege is deprived from so many people and I can understand why a homosexual person would want to attain a heteronormative status consequentially.
In American society today, there are certain stereotypes and "expectations" set that the public expects everyone to conform to. Because the majority of people are heterosexual, an enormous amount of influence is put on society to live life like a heterosexual. Homonormativity claims that because of this pressure, homosexuals want to be like heterosexuals. However, I don't believe in the concept of homonormativity because I don't think homosexuals strive to be heterosexual. There is no reason to believe homosexuals are less happy living their lives the way that they want to than heterosexuals. The reason I think homonormativity exists is because most of American society has not opened up enough to fully accept people of both sexual orientations.
ReplyDeleteWith a rise in acceptance of the LGBTQIA community, homonormativity has become a problem with how pop culture views people who identify as a part of this community. Heteronormativity is already a problem because it promotes the idea that the perfect life involves being a part of a straight, white, upper-middle class couple that is raising their own 2 kids in a house in the suburbs. Because the media is obsessed with this small subset of society, it has been crammed down the public’s throats and idealized to make any other lifestyle feel insignificant. With this in mind, we can see how the rise of homonormativity is something we need to be wary about and should aim to dispel before it becomes a bigger problem. The example given in the website about the “fight for gay marriage” is perfect in describing how homonormativity can be very damaging if it becomes the face for the LGBTQIA community. While the media’s insistence on that marriage “equality” is the biggest problem for this community, many queer people feel that much more important problems, such as AIDS/HIV, violence and hate-crimes, and a variety of discrimination that comes because of their identity need the attention and support before marriage should be looked at. Unfortunately, because marriage falls so easily into place with ideals held by heteronormativity, the fight for gay marriage is the issue that garners the most attention. Another example is the types of popular gay couples that are seen in media. White same-sex couples, for example, the gay dads from modern family, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, and Neil Patrick Harris and his husband, have been placed on a pedestal by the media, as if to say “You should aim for straight, but if you instead end up gay, try to keep your relationship married and same-race”. Some may argue that any form of positive representation for the LGBTQIA community is a good thing, but in reality the homonormativity that is developing can still be incredibly damaging.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of homonormativity seems closely related to the concept of minorities attempting to fit in with white culture, or white culture trying to mandate all cultures become homogenous and adapt to the dominant culture. Homonormativity likely arises because of the public media portrayal of gay activism. Because the headlines talk about the struggles for homosexual marriage or equal rights for gays in other aspects, the heterosexual public develops a notion of all gay struggles pertaining to obtaining the same lifestyles as heterosexual individuals. However, I think it is naive to assume that these issues are the central problems for the homosexual community just because media gives attention to these issues. As the article points out, there are many big issues in the gay community that have nothing to do with heterosexual culture alignment. Furthermore, assuming that a struggle for equality equates to a desire to fall in line with the dominant culture disregards basic human rights as something reserved for the dominant majority. Although a desire to subscribe to the heterosexual institution of marriage may suggest homonormativity, one must remember the legality surrounding the institution. There may be some in the homosexual community who wish to be treated like heterosexuals, but I think this idea ignores the true goals of the homosexual community and misdirects the focus to the wrong areas.
ReplyDeleteIn our society today, there are certain boundaries and expectations that people are forced to stay within. Heterosexuality is labeled as the "normal" sexual orientation and in some cases even the "correct" orientation. Society and media often indirectly or even directly separates people with homosexual orientation into a separate category from the "normal" bunch. I personally don't believe that the homosexual community has any desire to become heteronormative, but I do believe that they don't constantly want to be made out as different people, or out of the ordinary. I think their one desire is to truly be respected and looked upon as equals within the community. In an earlier post Edward mentioned movies being labeled as homosexual movies simply because homosexuals were involved. If those movies contained heterosexual relationships they would be placed within the Romantic Category on Netflix instead; not the "heterosexual" category. Society just tends to put homosexuals in another category rather than accepting them as the same or "normal". Therefore I believe that homosexuals simply strive for an equal status as heterosexuals in modern day society.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with the article's assertion that many policies today are an example of homonormativism in America today. In fact, I was shocked to see that marriage equality could possibly be construed as somehow forcing members of the LGBTQ community to conform to a heteronormative society. There are many reason two people in love might wish to marry each other, not least religion, to show long-term commitment, to save money, or for convenience's sake. I don't believe any of these reasons necessarily mean the couple involved is being forced to conform to heteronormative standards; rather, I'd like to think it's a simple matter of human rights and equality. If anyone, straight or not, wishes to marry, they should be allowed to do so. It also follows that if a couple does not believe in the institution of marriage, they do not have to get married. For me, it comes down to a matter of personal choice, not sexual orientation or heteronormativism.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first learned about the concept of homonormativity I was taught to immediately ask, as with other social theories, why does this theory exist or what service does it provide to those who accept it? I would argue that the idea of homonormativity was constructed and is implemented in order to provide some sort of understanding of queer individuals within the modern framework of a heterosexual society. It validates a space for the presence of gay identities, however remains in the vocabulary and perspective of viewing heterosexual as a natural order. In other words, it implies the comprehension of queerness only comes into focus when it’s put behind the lense of a heterosexual context. From the provided definition for homonormativity, one can deduce that heterosexuality is being defined as the orientation which everyone naturally should desire.
ReplyDeleteI argue that homonormativity conveys a very superficial, one dimensional understanding of human identity and not just puts queer individuals in a box, but everyone. This concept infers a fixed nature of sexuality and gender and tremendously reduces the infinite ways there are to act as and be a human. I think this concept closely relates to the assumption people have, whether consciously or unconsciously, that transgendered people are simply a mix of the categories of male and female. This idea positions these people in an intermediate space between the two extremes, simultaneously assuming the dichotomy of male and female, and infers they have simply not been able to recognize or have convoluted their true nature. Personally, I believe this understanding is not only false but it’s missing the bigger picture. Concepts like this and homonormativity are not viewing queer from an accurate point of view because they have already severely limited their perspective by defining what they understand in terms of heterosexuality.
An example of homonormativity is the fight for gay marriage and the assumption larger society has that gay people are upset simply because they don’t have the same rights and privileges as straight couples. In my WMS 50 class, we discussed how many gay people choose to oppose the fight for same sex marriage because it reinforces these thought processes.
In conclusion, understanding homonormativity can help us better understand interracial couples. For instance, we can now recognize false assumptions that multiracial couples try to ‘act’ like same race couples and misleading terminology such as justifying the acceptance of multiracial couples because ‘they’re really just like normal couples’.
Based on the course readings, we can interpret that the concept of homonormativity has some basis in regards to viable incentive. Throughout much of history, it has been deemed “normal” to be straight and anything that does not fall into this status quo was seen as alien and disgusting. Discrimination from both the political and social sectors not-so-gently encourages minorities to assimilate with the mainstream mold of a “normal” human being. In this regards, the homonormative has reasoning, although the drive does not come from within, but rather from the external pressures of society as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, it is easily disputable because the homonormative standpoint normally refers to an internal drive to be heterosexual – “normal.” In reality, it is not the desire to be heterosexual, but rather the desire to be treated as an equal to the heterosexual community. This important distinction is the fundamental platform for many pro-same sex marriage organizations. Rather than the psychological desire to fit in with the status quo, the concept of the privileges flaunted by heterosexuals is more alluring than being heterosexual itself.
The concept of homonormativity and its assumption that queer people want to be just like heteronormative people has multiple facets. Let me explain two of them: 1) from the standpoint of progressive culture, and 2) from the standpoint of traditional culture. In progressive cities that embrace difference such as San Francisco, many individuals are proud of their identity and openly celebrate it. They do not attempt to shadow the status of heternormative people, but instead openly embrace the difference. However, in traditionally cultured cities, this is may be very different. Because the surrounding individuals may not be accepting of difference, individuals may be silently coerced into attempting to blend in. Ultimately, the concept largely lies upon the basis of public support and the surrounding viewpoints. If the public support and surrounding viewpoints towards homosexual relationships are positive, then homonormativity is less likely to dominate. Whereas in the opposite case, homonormativity may appear more often.
ReplyDelete