Let's talk about the problem...

Heteronormativity is a term for a set of lifestyle norms that hold that all people fall into distinct and complementary genders (male and female). Those who do not fit into that norm receive sanctions from society, whether overt or subtle, that seeks to punish and normalize those perceived as “others”. For many of these perceived “others” that do not fall neatly into the one of the two subsets, these sanctions can be very emotionally distressing and even in other cases, life-altering. Put plainly, heteronormativity is the assumption that all people are straight. In heteronormative assumptions, people of less common sexual orientation (lesbian, bisexual, gay, etc.) are non-existent. This is a type of symbolic annihilation. Heteronormative assumptions can negatively influence the lives of both men and women, but in this paper we will be exploring the impact on young men in particular.