Moving beyond heterosexism? The good, the bad and the indifferent in accounts of others’ reactions to important life events

Abstract

Latterly the psychology of sexualities has diversified. There has been increased engagement with queer theory and a heightened focus on sexual practices alongside continued interrogation of heteronormativity via analyses of talk-in-interaction. In this article, I offer an argument for juxtaposing the incongruent in order to further interrogate manifestations of heterosexism in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) people’s lives. In this case, accounts of others’ reactions to a happy event and to a sad experience. By drawing on two contrasting data corpuses – 124 people planning or in a civil partnership and 60 women who had experienced pregnancy loss – there is increased potential for understanding variation in ‘normative’ and/or heteronormative interpretations of LGBTQ lives. I suggest that, despite significant legal and structural gains for LGBTQ communities in a number of Western countries in recent years, and lively internal debates within the psychology of sexualities field, critical examination of manifestations of heterosexism should remain a central focus.

Divisions: College of Health & Life Sciences > School of Psychology
College of Health & Life Sciences
College of Health & Life Sciences > Chronic and Communicable Conditions
Additional Information: Peel, E. (2012). Moving beyond heterosexism? The good, the bad and the indifferent in accounts of others’ reactions to important life events. Psychology of sexualities review, 3(1), 34. © The British Psychological Society
Uncontrolled Keywords: LGBTQ psychology,qualitative methods,civil partnership,miscarriage,pregnancy loss
Publication ISSN: 2047-1475
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2024 10:11
Date Deposited: 14 Jan 2013 08:42
Full Text Link: http://www.bpss ... 2012-P2592.aspx
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PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2012
Authors: Peel, Elizabeth

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