“The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it
when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it
when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes.”
-Morpheus, The Matrix
The Heterosexual Matrix surrounds everyone, yet most of are not fully aware of itʼs effect on us. C.J. Pascoe defines it as being “the public ordering of masculinity and femininity through meanings and practices of sexuality.” From a young age these constructs in society teach people to link sex and gender together. Boys are equal to masculinity, and girls are equal to femininity.
C.J. Pascoe, a sociologist and author, studied schools and their role as a sexualized and gendered institution. The school creates an environment were sex and gender canʼt been seen as separate. River High, the particular school where Pascoe did her research, has many examples of formal and informal gendered meanings and practices. In one class discussion the concept of marriage is used because of itʼs “assumed universality.” In other words, marriage in our society is automatically seen as a union between a man and a woman of similar age. No one needs to explain it, everyone automatically understands it because the Heterosexual Matrix has taught them this. At River Highʼs graduation boys wear black robes, while girls wear yellow ones. Photos posted in one teachers room were all boy-girl pairs from proms and other formal events. These practices create “an environment in which gender-differentiated heterosexuality [is] celebrated and made a focal point.” Schools are just one example of institutions rich with pro-heterosexual meanings and practices.
However, sex and gender are not one and the same. Sexual identity is determined by an individualʼs physical genitalia, while gender is regardless of physical makeup and based on whether an individual is masculine or feminine. The Heterosexual Matrix does not project anything but heterosexuality. Students are not given the choice to decide whether they want to wear black or yellow robes to graduation based on what gender they see themselves as. There are no photos of non-heterosexual couples posted in the teacherʼs room to represent the many different types of sexuality. The Heterosexual Matrix that we live in teaches us these concepts of heterosexuality and then we reinforce them and pass them onto other people through our own words and actions.
What is the difference between the heterosexual matrix and heteronormativity?
ReplyDeleteThe heterosexual matrix sets up a hierarchy of gender through sexuality. For example, a man may be considered masculine because he has sexual relations with a woman. But a man who has sexual relations with another man would not be considered masculine.
DeleteHeteronormativity on the other hand sets up social norms on the premise that heterosexuality is the dominant sexuality. For example, asexuality would be considered abnormal because asexuals have no desire for sex at all.
That's the conclusion I've come to from my own research, hope it helps. :)