What is "compulsory heterosexuality?"
- This refers to the enforcement of heterosexuality in society.
- It is done by making all other relationships seem "abnormal," and by rejecting them through violence and oppression
- Examples of compulsory heterosexuality range from assaulting same-sex couples, to fighting to keep marriage exclusively between heterosexual couples, and emotionally and physically abusing women by forcing them to submit to men.
- Compulsory heterosexuality also reinforces gender inequalities, and male dominance of women.
Example #1: Beauty and The Beast
The Disney movie Beauty and The Beast carries the message that lover conquers all, but along the way it also suggests the following ideas:
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Example #2: Mulan
Listen to the following lyrics to the song A Girl Worth Fighting For from the movie Mulan:
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Additional Reading:
Rich, A. (1980). Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence. Women: Sex and Sexuality, 5, 631-660.
Rich, A. (1980). Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence. Women: Sex and Sexuality, 5, 631-660.