Jackson's presentation stressed the importance of considering heterosexuality in feminist thought. It discussed how heterosexuality, gender, and sexuality intersect and are shaped by social structures on both macro and micro levels. Specifically, it noted that heteronormativity is maintained through social meanings and understandings taught from a young age, as well as everyday social interactions and practices that reinforce traditional gender roles and expectations of sexuality.

1. ‘Gender, Sexuality and
Heterosexuality’ by Stevi Jackson
A presentation by Jack and Jamila

2. Overview
• Jackson stressed the importance of
heterosexuality in feminist thought.
• ‘Heteronormativity’
• Heterosexuality, gender and sexuality intersect
and interact with different dimensions of ‘the
social’.

3. The Social
• Consists of four dimensions:
1. Structural, patterned social relations that
shape social order at a macro level.
2. Social relations and practices, which are filled
with meaning.
3. The ‘everyday’, routine social practices.
4. Social agents or subjects (sexual and
gendered selves).

4. A view from above: the structural
dimension
• ‘View from above’ – Jackson takes this stance,
which means to appreciate the existence of
structural, patterned inequalities.
• For example, inequalities in distributions of
resources and the division of labour.
• Gender and heterosexuality are structural
phenomena
• Structural constraints impinge on everyday life,
differentially enabling/ constraining patterns of
existence.
• Sexuality is not a structural phenomenon.

5. Heteronormativity
Refers to the idea that heterosexuality
is the accepted norm in society.

6. Heteronormativity is maintained by:
• The meanings and understandings that people
hold about the world.
• These tend to have a ‘normalizing effect’ on
discussions of gender and sexuality.
• For example, most of us are taught from a
young age that heterosexuality is the norm and
homosexuality is the deviant other.

7. Heteronormativity is maintained by:
• Everyday interactions and practices.
• For example, women being identified and
evaluated in terms of their sexual
availability/attractiveness to men.
• A woman’s ‘role’ in a heterosexual relationship
as the wife and mother.

8. ‘The Social Self’
• The self is not a fixed structure but is always
‘in process’.
• Forms of gendered and sexual self-hood are
culturally and historically specific.
• Gendered and sexual selves continue to be
renegotiated throughout our lives.