Sociology / Unit 7 Soc 1104 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Heterosexism
Captions available
The idea
Heterosexism is both an ideology and a set of institutional practices that privilege heterosexual orientation over every other orientation.
In practice
A benefits policy that recognizes only opposite-sex spouses enacts heterosexism structurally, without any staff member expressing an attitude.
Where people slip
Heterosexism describes a system; the personal aversion it can accompany is a separate, narrower term.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Sociology