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social science subjects > sociology > social theory > feminist theory > compulsory heterosexuality

Preferred term

compulsory heterosexuality  

Definition

  • Compulsory heterosexuality is a term popularized by Adrienne Rich in her essay Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence (1981). This refers to the societal assumption that men and women are born biologically predisposed to being heterosexual – an assumption which authors such as Rich seek to challenge. [Source: The SAGE Dictionary of Leisure Studies; Compulsory Heterosexuality]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/compulsory_heterosexuality

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