What is Compulsory Heterosexuality?

[JunBird]

i love the community you’ve built as both a safe space for non conformist individuals and allies <333

[val.]

This is a great explanation! I think it’s also a helpful term in understanding the relationship between the gender binary and heteronormativity. Everyone is expected to be either a man or a woman and to be attracted to, have relationships with, build a life with, have children with people of the “opposite sex.” They enforce each other - part of being an “ideal man” is being attracted to women, and in order to be attractive to the “opposite sex” you’re expected to be a “manly man.”

All of these social norms are built on top of whichever gender you were assigned - men are expected to make money and “head the family” (they’re given control over women), and women are expected to have and take care of children and obey men. Compulsory heterosexuality is a form of social control - everyone must fit into these neat boxes, and we know exactly what roles you will fulfill the moment you’re born. And it maintains a hierarchical power structure where any difference is treated as an act of rebellion that must be stamped out - you have to be man or woman and stick with the one you were assigned at birth, if you are woman you must be attracted to and date men and you must be subservient to them, if you are man you must suppress your emotions and never question how the world works (that would be whining and men are supposed to just accept individual responsibility or else they’re weak, if you take issue with what’s expected of you, you just need to be stronger!). If you don’t follow these rules in any way, you’re a traitor to your sex and you’re gonna lead to the collapse of society.

We shouldn’t be defined by these very particular aspects of our bodies in the first place; our identities are just so tied up in who we’ve been taught we’re meant to be. Variation in gender and sexuality are natural, diversity is human, and it’s really sad how much of ourselves and of humanity we’re taught to repress.

[bradanthony]

Hannah you are amazing. I don't believe in labels but I understand some people need one to feel happy, comfortable and safe in themselves.

[albasapri]

Oh oh! I thought I understood this concept before but nope. It's so much clearer now! Thanks Hannah ❤

[speciesmg]

Yep, you're right about all of it. Took me until my late 40s to realise I'm acespec.

[PerovNigma]

Nice to see you covering queer stuff! 😊 Shame that it'll probably get lots of hateful comments, like the flags short. 😒

[laurenschenck]

I love ur community so much and your are amazing and so smart and educational ❤❤❤

[JoyandSerenity.]

Almost every single woman I have ever met, has been at least a lil bit Bi, not trying to assume anyones whatever, but I do think men need to stop being so precious about shit and just have some good times (consenting good times)

[jaminova_]

Love you Hannah! I love your channel and take on the spectrum of human sexuality and relationships! Sending much Love from SoCal! XXXOXXOOXXOO

[sl__]

Not everybody is straight but heterosexuality is the default sexual orientation. I know that because if most people weren't inherently straight, there wouldn't be 8 billion people on this earth today. Although it happens for sure, not every country, society or institution represses homosexuality. Being gay is a normal part of humanity and same-sex sexuality has been in practice for longer than modern Homo sapiens have walked this earth. But to suggest that heterosexuality is only the default orientation because of the pressure society puts on us is just plain silly. Most people are straight. Some are gay. Life is short. Let's just all get on with it together.

[Angryalpaca]

Calling heterosexuality default settings is funny because it Implies that gay people went out their way to get a monthly subscription to be gay or something lol

[lunarlakes]

thank you for making a video about this!!

[whoviangirl]

Heads up that 'comphet' was a term coined by radfems to be exclusionary and separate out political lesbians as 'better' than other queer ppl, and that heteronormativity is the preferred concept in these things. Comphet always *sounds* like a cool thing but its coiner was a massive terf

[quintuscrinis]

I blame Augustus. He actually made it the law for those over 30.

[toniemorrison]

If some of us are just heterosexual, are you all going to discriminate against us? I respect the LGBTQ community, but I'm just not attracted to other women or Pansexual people. Much love and respect for you all though....

[dojima]

Can someone answer who keeps coming up with all these different ways of making people different...

[LightPink]

What percentage of people do you aren't cis-het?

[kuhmpashun]

“Where it’s assumed heterosexuality is enforced”

What? Who assumes this? Who’s enforcing it? What does it even to “enforce” heterosexuality?

As much as these kinds of channels talk about “challenging meanings and assumptions” and “reductive thinking” they seem to do a lot of vague and misleading speaking, with very little backing up beyond, “trust me”.

[ulrichkristensen]

Well i never meet people with what is your sexuality, i am heterosexual, and i have always gravitated to other heteroseksuels, never been a problem. I do not enforce my sexuality on others, that is not how i meet People

[rockysquirrel]

Hetero is the orientation that actually propagates a species, but tell us again how your the normal one.