Heteronormativity and Media Heteronormativity Refers

Heteronormativity and Media

Heteronormativity refers to the notion that heterosexuality is the social norm in society and that various elements and institutions in our culture benefit from perpetuating that situation. In most of the United States, there is a very narrow definition of what is generally considered "normal" in many respects. As pertains to sexual orientation in particular, heterosexuality is the norm, and deviation from it are considered "shameful," morally wrong," "perverted," and profoundly "abnormal" except in a few pockets of the more socially liberal communities in the Northeast and the West Coast.

Admittedly, understanding of homosexuality improved dramatically in the last half of the 20th century, but as with other aspects of civil rights and tolerance of diversity, there still remains tremendous room for improvement. Practically every step made by the gay community in pursuit of equal rights is immediately opposed by socially conservative groups lobbying against it. Homosexuality is specifically prohibited by the religious beliefs that prevail in American society.

A handful of states have demonstrated the understanding that homosexuality is rarely a volitional choice, and that either way, it is not inherently any more wrong, in moral principle, from heterosexuality. Nevertheless, it still carries a negative social stigma; in fact, some of the very laws favorable to gay rights illustrate the point by their mere necessity. That point was the central theme of a classic 1993 Seinfeld Episode

57) "The Outing."

That episode was sociologically relevant on two distinct levels: (1) heteronormativity provided the plotline premise of social embarrassment connected to alternate sexual orientation, (2) sufficient social tensions about the acceptance of alternate sexual identities existed that, from what was widely reported at the time, the actual dialog in the show that aired incorporated the substance of high-level network executive decisions against running it without disclaiming any insult to the gay community. In retrospect, the insertion of some form of a phrase synonymous with "there is nothing wrong with being gay" throughout the episode, every time the characters expressed their embarrassment at being erroneously perceived as being gay became the funniest joke of the show. On one hand, being considered gay is universally recognized within American culture as embarrassing that it works as a natural premise for comedy without the need to explain the reason for that reaction; on the other hand; a broadcast comedic reference to that topic is deemed too "controversial" for public airwaves without disclaiming any of the assumptions or cultural bias that define "normal" and "abnormal" sexual orientation in the first place. The plotline even included a uniformed U.S. Armed Services member thanking the protagonist for helping the cause of closeted homosexuals who risk jeopardizing their professional careers by acknowledging their sexual orientation.

In the 14 years since that sitcom episode, social perspective about sexual orientation has improved in a general sense, but probably much more so in areas where it was already accepted than elsewhere. Because popular perceptions are so profoundly influenced by the multimedia portrayal of cultural trends, the fact that high profile celebrities like Rosie O'Donnell and (most recently) former NSynch band member Lance

Bass have publicly acknowledged their homosexuality. Since 1993, bisexual experimentation" (particularly for women) has become a fashionable trend, especially within the entertainment industry. Like anything else that is publicized about celebrities in American culture, this change has also led to emulation among the masses, especially on the two coasts where the entertainment industry is based.

Naturally, progress in the area of the social acceptance of alternate sexual identity in society has inspired dedicated political opposition from the Religious Right, whose main mantra (in the absence of anything more philosophically legitimate) is the so-called sanctity" of marriage and family. Ironically, the two most influential anti-gay institutions, (for example, the Church and various state political representatives famous for their conservative position on sexual identity), tend to be considerably significantly over represented in sexually deviant criminal behavior that usually also includes a homosexual component. Obvious parallels to sitcom episodes aside, their duplicitous conduct and repression or secretive expression of their own sexual urges clearly relate to perpetuating a political agenda and, in the case of the Church, also to preserving their financial interests.