Comments on: No “one true path”: against “straight” http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/ Author, Speaker, Professor, Shattering Gender Myths Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9065 Tom Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:25:31 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9065 Just thought that I should qualify that last remark to state that I don't intend nor should what I wrote be taken as an attempt at erasure of anyone's identity. Just thought that I should qualify that last remark to state that I don’t intend nor should what I wrote be taken as an attempt at erasure of anyone’s identity.

]]> By: Tom http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9064 Tom Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:08:02 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9064 I'd consider myself heterosexual, but don't call myself "straight". No need to get into it, but straight I generally consider heterosexual and... I suppose what one might call mainstream, maybe hegemonic, sexual norms. I do consider "het" to be slightly pejorative. In general, though, I don't bother often with labels on people's sexuality in general. Not my business and I don't care what anyone else's sexuality is. Then again, I live in the Bay Area, so it's pretty much come as you are. I wonder to what extent late-19th and early-20th century medical, legal, and academic trends and imperatives to label, and pathologize, non-standard sexual behavior led to this conception of ironclad and immutable sexual identity, Michel Foucault's thesis. It didn't exist in our culture until then, and it doesn't exist in most cultures in the world today either. I think it's probably artificial and describes human sexual behavior and desire inaccurately. Of course, that paradigm was turned on its head over the last 40 years or so in the form of the LGBT rights movement and it's collateral descendants, when people took those labels and made them a source of personal identification, pride, and a basis for organizing and activism. That liberalized norms of sexuality and relationships for everyone, so I suppose the labels did prove to have some value, though obviously not what their inventors intended. I’d consider myself heterosexual, but don’t call myself “straight”. No need to get into it, but straight I generally consider heterosexual and… I suppose what one might call mainstream, maybe hegemonic, sexual norms. I do consider “het” to be slightly pejorative.

In general, though, I don’t bother often with labels on people’s sexuality in general. Not my business and I don’t care what anyone else’s sexuality is. Then again, I live in the Bay Area, so it’s pretty much come as you are.

I wonder to what extent late-19th and early-20th century medical, legal, and academic trends and imperatives to label, and pathologize, non-standard sexual behavior led to this conception of ironclad and immutable sexual identity, Michel Foucault’s thesis. It didn’t exist in our culture until then, and it doesn’t exist in most cultures in the world today either. I think it’s probably artificial and describes human sexual behavior and desire inaccurately. Of course, that paradigm was turned on its head over the last 40 years or so in the form of the LGBT rights movement and it’s collateral descendants, when people took those labels and made them a source of personal identification, pride, and a basis for organizing and activism. That liberalized norms of sexuality and relationships for everyone, so I suppose the labels did prove to have some value, though obviously not what their inventors intended.

]]> By: Bond http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9063 Bond Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:21:18 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9063 Faith -- oh, I don't have a problem with the word heterosexual (not that it would be my place to have a problem with it, not being het), and I often use it. I just think it's very handy to have a word with the same friendly, snappy, non-clinical tone as "gay." Heterosexual is six syllables long, straight is just one, and to my ear, phrases like "straight guy" and "straight couple" are just smoother than "heterosexual guy," etc. Also the word "homosexual" has sort of been monopolized by the anti-gay (phrases like "homosexual marriage" aren't generally used favorably), and I like symmetry in language. But anyone who wants to use heterosexual exclusively won't get any trouble from me. Faith — oh, I don’t have a problem with the word heterosexual (not that it would be my place to have a problem with it, not being het), and I often use it. I just think it’s very handy to have a word with the same friendly, snappy, non-clinical tone as “gay.” Heterosexual is six syllables long, straight is just one, and to my ear, phrases like “straight guy” and “straight couple” are just smoother than “heterosexual guy,” etc. Also the word “homosexual” has sort of been monopolized by the anti-gay (phrases like “homosexual marriage” aren’t generally used favorably), and I like symmetry in language.

But anyone who wants to use heterosexual exclusively won’t get any trouble from me.

]]> By: Bond http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9062 Bond Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:11:57 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9062 Ballgame -- hahaha. There's only so much I can do here; I wanted a less feminine moniker and didn't want to rename myself whole cloth, and Bond is my honest to goodness surname. I figure there are worse associations. :) Ballgame — hahaha. There’s only so much I can do here; I wanted a less feminine moniker and didn’t want to rename myself whole cloth, and Bond is my honest to goodness surname. I figure there are worse associations. :)

]]> By: Faith http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9061 Faith Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:13:08 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9061 "I appreciate and agree with everything you say here, but I think “straight” is useful because we need a casual word to refer to heterosexual people." Why do we need a casual word to apply to heterosexual folks? Why not just call them heterosexual? I guess I'm just not seeing the issue here. I understand the issue with the word "straight", but why we can't just use heterosexual is not registering. Is it just because people don't want to take the time to use big words? I'm not intending to sound offensive or snarky, I'm just honestly not understanding the problem with the word heterosexual. “I appreciate and agree with everything you say here, but I think “straight” is useful because we need a casual word to refer to heterosexual people.”

Why do we need a casual word to apply to heterosexual folks? Why not just call them heterosexual?

I guess I’m just not seeing the issue here. I understand the issue with the word “straight”, but why we can’t just use heterosexual is not registering. Is it just because people don’t want to take the time to use big words? I’m not intending to sound offensive or snarky, I’m just honestly not understanding the problem with the word heterosexual.

]]> By: ballgame http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9060 ballgame Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:27:36 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9060 <blockquote>I also object to the notion that “straight” somehow implies normal or healthy.</blockquote> But doesn't "gay" imply that heterosexuals are, you know, mopey? ;) <blockquote>Whoops, forgot to edit my info — just for the record I’m going by just Bond now.</blockquote> Bond? Just … Bond? *sigh* I won't be able to read your handle without <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii1tc493bZM" rel="nofollow">this</a> running through my head. (Given your new approach to life, perhaps that's what you intend.) :)

I also object to the notion that “straight” somehow implies normal or healthy.

But doesn’t “gay” imply that heterosexuals are, you know, mopey?
;)

Whoops, forgot to edit my info — just for the record I’m going by just Bond now.

Bond? Just … Bond?

*sigh* I won’t be able to read your handle without this running through my head. (Given your new approach to life, perhaps that’s what you intend.)
:)

]]> By: Bond http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9059 Bond Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:04:56 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9059 That's use* het more, of course. I'm not planning any legal action against heterosexuals. That’s use* het more, of course. I’m not planning any legal action against heterosexuals.

]]> By: Bond http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9058 Bond Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:03:51 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9058 Het's not bad -- I don't think it implies homo quite as much as hetero does, and it's a good companion for bi. I don't have any other ideas, but I'll try to sue het more, and I'll keep my eyes and ears open for others. Het’s not bad — I don’t think it implies homo quite as much as hetero does, and it’s a good companion for bi.

I don’t have any other ideas, but I’ll try to sue het more, and I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for others.

]]> By: Hugo Schwyzer http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9057 Hugo Schwyzer Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:44:55 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9057 I use "het" a lot, as a short and sweet contraction. Other ideas? I use “het” a lot, as a short and sweet contraction. Other ideas?

]]> By: Bond http://www.hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9056 Bond Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:28:21 +0000 http://hugoschwyzer.net/2009/10/12/there-is-no-one-true-path-against-straight/#comment-9056 Whoops, forgot to edit my info -- just for the record I'm going by just Bond now. Whoops, forgot to edit my info — just for the record I’m going by just Bond now.

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