Heterosexism notes for trainers

Contents / Page
Heterosexism – Definition and Roots / 3
The gay gene?
The roots of homophobia, bi and transphobia
Understanding Heterosexism
There are several strands to Heterosexism
Real lives, real examples
Institutional Heterosexism
Heterosexism and relationships / 5
6
7
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9
10
14
Light-hearted additions
As a heterosexual, have you ever…
How Long Have You Been a Heterosexual Quiz
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Heterosexism - Definition and Roots
Heterosexism is the belief that being heterosexual is inherently and morally superior and of greater value than being lesbian, gay or bisexual. This belief justifies domination and the imposition of values and beliefs.
Heterosexism has its roots in sexism. Sexism is a system of power and control based on values that impose limited notions of what it means to be a woman or a man. As with sexism, heterosexism is firmly entrenched in society, through our customs, traditions and institutions. Heterosexism is a cultural failing that results in negative attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender* people (LGBT).
How Heterosexism Manifests
Heterosexism manifests in many ways. It is subtle and so entrenched that most people are completely unaware of it. Heterosexism does not necessarily deny the existence of LGBT people, but stereotypes and pathologises LGBT people and reinforces limited gender notions about women and men. Heterosexism is the heterocentric assumption that everyone is, or would rather be, heterosexual, or that it would at least be obvious if someone was not heterosexual. This often shows up in unintentional ways in every day life. / For example, when a woman says she is going out on a date, many people will ask, “what’s he like”, or “what’s his name”, assuming the date will be with a man because she is a woman. Heterosexuality is regarded as the ‘norm’, which puts people, like the woman in the example, in a position where they have to ‘come out’ if they want to say who they are really going on a date with (see coming out fact sheet).
Impact and Health Consequences of Heterosexism
Heterosexism adversely affects everyone and leads to discrimination against LGBT people. At a basic level heterosexism allows heterosexual couples to walk down the street holding hands, whilst same gender couples are accused of “flaunting” their sexuality by doing the exact same thing. Even worse, heterosexism can lead to inappropriate treatment of LGBT people when accessing services such as the NHS, due to incorrect assumptions and negative attitudes.
Sometimes LGBT people will not ‘come out’ when accessing services for fear of negative reactions and less favourable treatment.
What You Can Do About Heterosexism
Challenging heterosexism means not making assumptions about peoples’ relationships. Simple things like asking people if they have a partner rather than gender specific terms like husband or wife can make all the difference.
The following example of how entrenched heterosexism is was an actual conversation between two nurses, Tracy and Julie, in Glasgow.
Tracy, assuming Julie was heterosexual, said,
“I’ve got nothing against gay people, but I don’t understand why they feel they need to come out and tell people about it. I mean, I’m heterosexual and I don’t go on about that”.
Julie, being confident and offended by Tracy’s ignorance, replied,
“I am a lesbian and the reason I am coming out and telling you is because you assumed I am heterosexual. I would also like to point out that just last week you brought your wedding photos in to show everyone. You had a big white dress, a huge cake, a massive party with all your friends and family, you wear a wedding ring every day and talk openly about your husband. I can assure you that you are very out and proud about your heterosexuality and you do “go on about it” all the time’.
Tracy had been completely unaware that she had always been out and proud as heterosexual. She had never had to think about what people might think, or how she might be treated. She took being able to talk openly about her relationship for granted. It is often the case that same-sex couples are accused of flaunting their sexuality for doing something like walking down the street holding hands, when a man and woman can do the very same thing without anyone batting an eyelid. / If you are providing a service, making sure your information and images are inclusive of same gender relationships will help to show that your service is trying not to be heterosexist.
It should be the responsibility of services to show that they are LGBT inclusive rather than the responsibility of LGBT people to ‘come out’.
*Transgender is not a sexual orientation. However, the discrimination faced by transgender people is rooted in the same heterosexist values that discriminate against lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

The gay gene?

Various propositions have been put forward over the years in attempts to explain the existence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities and people.

Some have focused on biological or genetic causes (e.g. the ‘gay gene’) while others suggest psychological, emotional or childhood familial influences.

Julie Fish, who discusses these in greater depth in ‘Heterosexism in Health and Social Care’[1], observes that

“…one thing that seems to unite ‘researchers’ is that these ‘differences’ in LGB people are constructed as inferior…”

Heterosexism establishes and perpetuates the notion that all people are or should be heterosexual, therefore privileging heterosexual people and heterosexuality.

Heterosexism can at times be so subtle that institutions such as the NHS are often unaware they are excluding the needs, concerns, cultures and life experiences of LGBT people. ‘Heterosexism is oppression by neglect, omission, erasure and distortion’.[2]

Heterosexism has its roots in sexism and is an extension of sexism, which leads to its extreme expressions of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia is oppression on purpose, aimed at and intended to hurt LGBT people, whereas heterosexism is so institutionalised and embedded in society that many people are completely unaware of its subtle damaging effects.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people, just by being attracted to people of the same or both sexes, challenge the constructions of gender roles (the foundations on which sexism is based).

Also, transgender people often very visibly challenge these constructions of gender expression and are targeted with homophobic and transphobic abuse. Transgender people are often assumed to be lesbian or gay, even although many have heterosexual identities. Transgender, although distinct from sexual orientation in that it is about gender identity, is included in this section on heterosexism because transgender identities highlight the very clear connections between sexism and heterosexism/homophobia.

Heterosexism, although an overarching system of advantages bestowed on heterosexual people, on many levels it also oppresses and hurts heterosexual people too. Heterosexism puts all people into rigid gender roles that inhibit self- expression. Everyone is stifled by the imposition of limited notions of how sexuality and gender can be expressed.

LGBT people’s histories all over the world are filled with incredible pain, repression and invisibility. LGBT people have lost families, friends, jobs and even lives in the struggle for freedom from heterosexist and homophobic, biphobic and transphobic oppression. However, there is also a tremendous history of pride and victory over oppression by LGBT activists, friends and allies.

The roots of Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

While homophobia (and to a lesser extent biphobia and transphobia) as an expression of prejudice is a term most of us are familiar with, heterosexism is generally less well-known as a term.

However, heterosexism is highly significant in the ways that it has (and continues to) influence:

-  the various ‘theories’ touched on earlier

-  the stigma, prejudice and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

-  ways in which services such as the NHS have developed and traditionally been delivered, and

-  in Professional training, perspectives and practices

Understanding Heterosexism

Gregory M Herek, a Professor of Psychology at the University of California at Davis and an internationally recognised authority on prejudice, hate crimes and anti-gay violence against lesbians and gay men, describes heterosexism as

‘…a biasshown by a society or community where cultural institutions and individuals are conditioned to expecteveryone to live and behaveas heterosexuals.’

There are several strands to Heterosexism:

That heterosexuality is the ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ way to be

Of course, heterosexuality is perfectly normal and natural, as is same-sex attraction and bisexuality.

Issues arise when LGBT people and their relationships are portrayed as or seen to be ‘abnormal’, ‘unnatural’ or not ‘real relationships’ in comparison to heterosexual and gender-conforming relationships.

A further consequence of this perspective is that it feeds the notion that everyone either should be or would desire to be heterosexual.

This is evidenced in the treatment/cure approaches that, while largely discredited in the UK, are still widely available in the US.

Available evidence confirms that LGB people are disproportionately affected by stress, distress and mental ill-health.

However while many mainstream health observers now recognise the close relationship between stigma, prejudice, discrimination and health inequalities, the ‘cure them of their urges’ lobby often exploit the shame and guilt that LGBT people can experience as a consequence of prejudice and social marginalisation.

That Heterosexuality and heterosexual relationships are inherently and morally superior

Heterosexual relationships are publicly celebrated through commitment and responsibility, engagement and marriage, wedding photos and anniversaries.

It would be seen as crass and insensitive not to indulge, for example, someone who wants to show colleagues an engagement ring or wedding photographs.

By comparison, Civil Partnerships are portrayed by some as ‘controversial’ and to be tolerated at best, but certainly not to be celebrated.

One West Lothian Councillor declared that Civil Partnerships would encourage ‘queers to parade in public’. The same councillor went on to declare that he knew ‘none of his constituents were gay’.

Source: Edinburgh Evening News 2004

In daily discourses common ways of expressing this would be along the lines of ‘I don’t mind gays, but why do they have to go on about it/shoving it down our throats’ or, ‘What people do in the privacy of their own bedrooms is their business…’

That we are all assumed to be Heterosexual

Heterosexism does not deny the existence of LGBT people, but it is strongly predicated on stereotypical views of how LGBT people are, meaning that if someone ‘appears’ to be gay the assumption will often be made that they are, which is why transgender is included in this definition.

Conversely, if someone does not fit with stereotypical notions of LGBT people the assumption will ‘naturally’ be made that they are heterosexual.

It is this implicit assumption of heterosexuality that leads to the phenomena of ‘coming out’- acknowledging sexual orientation or transgender identity, firstly to self and then to others - as an experience unique to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Real lives, real examples

In a workshop an experienced Practice Nurse confidently informs the trainer and the group that ‘All the lesbians I’ve ever met have been manly and aggressive with spiky hair and dungarees’.

The trainer asks ‘So if you see a woman presenting in what you believe to be a ‘feminine’ way you implicitly assume her to be heterosexual then? She may not be, but your in-built beliefs mean you are feeding and reinforcing your own stereotypical views of how a lesbian will present and behave.

Equally, a woman wearing dungarees with spiky hair and presenting in a ‘manly’ way may not be lesbian (but would clearly be assumed to be so by this workshop participant)’

Also, what is wrong with a woman wearing dungarees and having spiky hair? To suggest a person’s style of hair and clothes is not appropriate for their sex is blatant sexism. The imposition of limited gender notions on someone because of their sex is sexist.

Heterosexist assumptions underpin the stated views of the Nurse in this example, and reinforce the ‘invisibility’ of LGBT people who do not fit into stereotypical constructs. Would such attitudes and beliefs encourage a woman who does identify as lesbian to confidently come out to healthcare professionals?

Institutional Heterosexism

The Law

In recent years changes in Legislation mean that the institutional discrimination faced by LGBT people is gradually being dismantled. These changes mark a significant departure from the past.

Protection from discrimination, along with a range of rights previously unavailable to LGBT people, are now in place.

In 2001 The Law finally equalised the age of consent for sexual activities to 16 following years of campaigning; before this and for most of the 1990’s the age of consent (for ‘homosexuals’) was 21.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1980 in Scotland, a full 13 years later than in England and Wales.

Prior to the Sex Discrimination Act amendment 1999 and the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations in 2003, harassment and discrimination of LGBT people in the workplace was not an offence.

Protection for lesbian, gay and bisexual in the provision of goods and services came into force in April 2007, while transsexual people will enjoy similar protections by the end of 2007.

Public policy has changed to reflect changes in the Law, and NHS Scotland is committed to addressing all forms of discrimination within the services that it offers.

However, while these changes are welcomed the biggest challenge facing us is in bringing about cultural change; in other words so in the day-to-day lived experiences of LGBT people.

Medicine and the NHS

Medicine has a history of pathologising lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Homosexuality wasn’t de-classified as a psychological disorder/sexual deviance until 1975. An article in the British Medical Journal (2004) recounted the experiences of clinicians who administered ‘aversion’ therapies to cure or treat homosexuality in the 1960s.

A second article related the experiences of lesbians and gay men who had undergone such treatments:

Treatments of homosexuality in Britain since the 1950s—an oral history: the experience of patients

Treatments of homosexuality in Britain since the 1950s—an oral history: the experience of professionals