Negotiating Identities in a Heteronormative Context

Abstract

Society prescribes a set model of heterosexual development toward a gender and sexual identity. Individuals with gender and sexual identities that do not conform to the prescribed heterosexual identities must essentially develop their own way, that is, they must privately negotiate their path through identity development and identity adoption. However, while negotiating their private reality, they must rely on existing concepts of other. Using a social constructionist framework, we explore the private negotiation of an individual who does not conform to the socially prescribed gender and sexual identities—a transgender lesbian. Based on this interview, we suggest that the model of traditional heteronormative gender socialization to sexual identity would need to be revised.

Keywords:

• heteronormative
• transgender
• identity development

Notes

1. We use the term transgender in this article since that is the term employed by Cory, the focus of the article. We understand that this terminology can be seen as dated by some, and other terms, such as, gender variant and gender queer are more favorable. However, since this is a case study and the individual self-identifies as a transgender lesbian, we will also employ that terminology.

2. For the purposes of this discussion, the term sexuality encompasses sexual orientation.