Combating Heteronormative Language

The Oxford Dictionary definition for “heteronormative” is:
“Denoting or relating to a world view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.”

While in the LGBT community the term “heteronormativity” is spoken often, we must remember that it is not a commonly used term in the workplace or classroom (unless you’re studying women’s studies or queer studies).  It is also not uncommon for you to hear aunts, cousins, or elderly people talking to young girls and teasingly asking “so, have you got a boyfriend yet?” and it’s often difficult in the workplace or classroom to speak up when someone says something about advertising to “women looking for a man” or things like that.

So what can we do in times these situations? Do we speak up and out ourselves in a potentially non-queer friendly environment, or do we stay quiet and allow the teacher to keep speaking about “traditional” heterosexual sex and relations?

It’s important to also remember that just because a teacher doesn’t know about heteronormativity that that doesn’t necessarily mean they are not queer friendly. I wrote a paper for an assignment that included the word heteronormativity as an example – and when I got the marked essay back the professor had written “Is this a word?” Many people are not regularly educated on queer issues or studies and terms that affect the queer community. It’s very possible that this idea had never been presented to my professor, and I have decided that it is an important role that I get to play in helping to develop someone’s education in LGBT issues.

When faced with a professor or employer that often uses heteronormative terms, ideas and examples if you feel that it is giving the topic a closed-minded approach, consider talking to them. You’d be surprised how many people hadn’t heard of the term, nor thought about the idea of including other sexual orientations in their language choice. Many people may not realize that by using heteronormative language, they are excluding a growing population of people and further encouraging the idea of “preferred sexual orientations.”

If you’re worried about a teacher grading you, or treating you unfairly based on your concerns – consider an anonymous letter dropped off at their office with a respectful definition of heteronormative language and its effects. If the problem seems to be a persistent one that cannot be solved by talking to them, try going higher and talking to their supervisor if you really think it is affecting the way you’re learning, or approaching a subject.

Inclusive and politically correct language is becoming more and more important in society, and we’ve already begun changing our word choices so that they’re gender neutral (actor/actress= actor, policeman=police officer, waiter/waitress=server, stewardess=flight attendant, and even manhole cover=maintenance hatch). It is not a far stretch to start trying to use orientation neutral language, and by educating others we are progressing society and the people around us to be aware of this issue.

About Jordyn Cowl

I am a second-year student at the University of Western Ontario majoring in English and Minoring in Creative Writing. I am also on the executive committee of PrideWestern as the Director of Off-Campus Events.

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