PoliticsAugust 23, 2026
heteronormative
het-uh-roh-NOR-muh-tiv
Definition
Relating to or based on the attitude that heterosexuality is the only normal or natural expression of human sexuality.
Etymology
Derived from 'hetero-' (meaning 'other' or 'different') and 'normative' (establishing or relating to a standard). It emerged in the early 1990s as a critical term in queer theory to describe societal structures that privilege heterosexual relationships.
In the news
Royce White uses this term sarcastically in a social media post to mock critics who questioned his claim of identifying as a woman, labeling their adherence to traditional gender categories as bigoted.
Former NBA players challenge WNBA on who is a woman
Read the full article ↗Washington Examiner