Having heteronormative assumptions may lead people to misgender someone (referring to someone with the wrong pronouns).
By assuming that someone is straight, youre erasing theirsexual identity.
Being bisexual or pansexual means someone is attracted to allgenders.
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Erasing people who identify with these orientations is harmful and hurtful.
Within heteronormativity are the prejudices oftransphobiaandhomophobia.
Think of gender reveal parties.
Not everyone identifies as the gender associated with their assigned sex at birth, however.
When a child is born, they are expected to perform heteronormativity.
Skewing away from those norms may be worrisome for parents who adhere to heteronormativity.
Its imperative to nurture a child, no matter their identity and how far it strays from heteronormative beliefs.
This is, of course, false.
People can have sex without a penis at all.
Sex with one or more people with penises also does not have to involve any penetration.
Also, cisgender gay men sometimes have penetrative anal sex.
Assuming Someone Is Monogamous
Non-monogamous relationships are seen as existing outside of heteronormative relationships.
While its not wrong to be monogamous, it is harmful to believe monogamy is superior to non-monogamous practices.
Non-Monogamy
Non-monogamy is an umbrella term for lifestyle choices that exist outside of the traditional monogamy framework.
Their idea of a nuclear family includes children and a cisgender, heterosexual mother and father.
Heteronormativity can be found in everyday language.
Maybe you’re into the same gender.
Maybe you don’t really know yet.
Being inclusive needs to be the new normal.
Why the Trump Administration Won’t Ask About LGBT Americans on the 2020 Census.The Atlantic.
March 29, 2017.
Price-Feeney M, Green AE, Dorison S.Understanding the mental health of transgender and non-binary youth.Journal of Adolescent Behavior.
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January 5, 2020. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.11.314
