heterosexualism
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A sexual orientation characterized by a primary or exclusive romantic and/or sexual attraction to persons of the opposite sex. This term describes the pattern of emotional, romantic, and physical attraction to individuals of a different gender.
- The state or condition of being heterosexual. It refers to the quality or characteristic of experiencing such attraction.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The study aimed to understand the social constructs surrounding heterosexualism.
- His heterosexualism was never a topic of discussion, as it was the societal norm in his community.
Advanced Usage
- As a formal or clinical term: The word "heterosexualism" is often used in academic, sociological, or historical contexts to discuss the concept as an institution or a normative social structure, rather than just an individual orientation.
- The author's thesis critiqued the dominance of heterosexualism in 20th-century legal frameworks.
Variants and Related Words
- Heterosexual (adj/n): (adj) Being sexually attracted to people of the opposite sex. (n) A person who is heterosexual.
- She identified as a heterosexual woman.
- Heterosexuality (n): This is the more common and contemporary term for the sexual orientation itself. "Heterosexualism" can sometimes be used synonymously but often carries a more systemic or ideological connotation.
- Heterosexuality is one of several natural variations of human sexuality.
Synonyms
- Straightness (informal): The quality of being heterosexual.
- Other-sex attraction: A descriptive phrase for the orientation.
Notes on Meaning
- Primary Meaning: The term primarily denotes the sexual orientation.
- Sociological Meaning: In critical theory, "heterosexualism" can refer to the cultural, legal, and institutional privileging of heterosexual relationships and identities, positioning it as a normative system (often related to the concept of "heteronormativity").
Noun
- a sexual attraction to (or sexual relations with) persons of the opposite sex