Compulsory Heterosexuality

Compulsory heterosexuality, also known as CompHet, is a concept that explores how society enforces and assumes heterosexuality as the default sexual orientation. It's not simply about individual preferences, but about the systemic pressures that shape our understanding of sexuality. 

• Origin:

• The term was popularized by Adrienne Rich in her 1980 essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence."

• Societal Pressure:

• It describes the idea that heterosexuality is presented as the "normal" and expected sexual orientation, while other orientations are marginalized or invisible.

• This pressure can be exerted through various means, including:

• Social norms and expectations.

• Media portrayals.

• Cultural institutions.

• Legal systems.

• Impact:

• Compulsory heterosexuality can lead to:

• The erasure of lesbian and other queer experiences.

• Internalized homophobia, where individuals may suppress or deny their own non-heterosexual feelings.

• The feeling of pressure to conform to heterosexual relationships, even if they don't feel authentic.

• Patriarchal Context:

• Rich's analysis connects compulsory heterosexuality to patriarchal power structures, arguing that it serves to maintain male dominance.

Compulsory heterosexuality is the idea that society tells us, in many ways, that everyone is supposed to be straight. This can make it difficult for people to recognize and accept their own non-heterosexual identities. CompHet highlights how our understanding of sexuality is shaped by social forces, rather than being solely a matter of individual choice.