Introduction Thinking straightness: An introduction to Critical Heterosexualities Studies

We present an overview of Heterosexualities Studies. Heterosexualities Studies is a subfield of Critical Sexuality Studies that critically questions the commonly held belief that heterosexuality is “natural” and biological in origin, and that it arises from a reproductive imperative. Heterosexualities Studies scholars argue that sexuality generally, and heterosexuality specifically, are socially constructed and historically and culturally contingent upon the specific contexts in which they arise. Heterosexualities Studies provides accounts of the social differences that create hierarchies between heterosexualities and homosexualities as well as the hierarchies within heterosexualities. Heteronormativity subordinates queer identities, and also normalizes and circumscribes the recognition of the multiple forms of heterosexualities and the hierarchies that exist between them. A key area of scholarship within the field examines how heterosexuality underpins notions of “opposite” sexes, gender differences, the dominant positions of men, the subordinate positions of women, and the marginalization of transgender and other non-conforming gender persons. While new gender and sexuality identity categories like genderqueer, pansexual, and asexual fundamentally challenge any essentialist, universalistic notions of heterosexuality, we are at a cultural moment of both progressive change and reactionary politics when heterosexual identities, practices, and institutions are ripe for social analyses, theoretical explanations, and historical contextualization.