Heteronormativity

Heteronormativity can be understood as a hegemonic worldview that understands and perpetuates heterosexuality of cis persons as a social norm, thus also perpetuating gender roles, stereotypes, etc. Because heterosexuality is established as a norm, it is not questioned and is thus almost never the subject of political or social discourse. At the same time, deviation from this conception of the norm is associated with sanctions, because anything that deviates from the status quo, which is considered correct, normal, natural, is automatically judged to be unnatural and/or understood as a niche issue affecting only a few, given less attention or made completely invisible.