Thinking 'Straight': Heteronormativity and Associated Outcomes Across Sexual Orientation.

Abstract

Heteronormativity has been defined as the privileging of heterosexuality, enforced compliance with culturally determined heterosexual roles, and assumptions about heterosexuality as 'natural' or 'normal.' Theories suggest that heteronormativity may be linked to a range of attitudes, social phenomena, and outcomes, particularly for anyone who transgresses the rigid expectations that characterize a heteronormative society. However, to date no quantitative measure of heteronormativity exists. This study presents the Heteronormative Attitudes and Beliefs Scale (HABS), which was developed in a pilot study with undergraduate psychology students. Items were selected, adapted, or designed to load on two hypothesized factors: (1) essentialized and binary beliefs about gender and sex and (2) normative behavioral expectations for men and women in romantic or sexual relationships. A Varimax rotated factor analysis of 38 original items revealed two factors. The resulting 16-item measure of heteronormativity is comprised of two balanced sub-scales (gender-as-binary, α = .92 and normative-sexual-behavior, α = .78) with eight items each. Participants in the current study were recruited through targeted online advertising and e-mail invitations and completed an Internet-based survey. The sample (N = 576) was roughly balanced with respect to gender (55% women) and sexual identity (38% sexual minorities), although the sample was largely Caucasian and well-educated. The HABS was employed to examine relationships between gender, sexual orientation, heteronormative attitudes and beliefs, personality constructs, and psychological well-being. As predicted, heteronormativity correlated positively with right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and social conservatism, and negatively with tolerance of ambiguity and openness to experience. Correlations and regression analyses among heterosexuals indicated that women and those with more lesbian and gay friends held less heteronormative beliefs about both gender and sexual behavior. For exclusively gay and lesbian participants, identity disclosure, or ‘outness’ predicted both fewer depressive symptoms and greater life satisfaction, whereas a combination of variables, including greater androgyny and less heteronormative attitudes, predicted more positive outcomes for bisexual participants. Recommendations for future research include replicating this study across more racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse samples and examining different facets of RWA as they relate to heteronormativity, heterosexism, and homophobia.