#heterosexual matrix

[eclipsedefflorescence]

The heterosexual matrix is domestication

The heterosexual matrix is a three part apparatus that consists of gender, sexuality, and sexed bodies. You cannot engage with one without also simultaneously being captured by the other two; in other words one cannot describe their sexuality without also requiring they locate themselves within a stable framework of their ideologically produced body (sexed bodies) and the resulting social signification of gender.

This subjectifying apparatus begins with a notion of ahistoricity that transcends into immanent “Naturalness” i.e. an immutable essentialized essence. It says that it has always been this way because bodies have always been socially categorized down lines of biological reproduction, or rather this categorization isn’t social at all but is an inescapable facet of Natural Biological being (and of course, what is being human without also being anchored to a biology?). And from here there is a proliferation of anxieties concerning the social symbolic order this produces (gender) and the reproductive politics managing the two (sexuality).

Ultimately this is an apparatus of domestication. It is one of the first technologies of the Leviathan that erases any notion of fluidity and radical being, for machinic standardization of the self, down to an unchangeable, dominant biological core. As a powerful force of domestication it makes us forget that what it describes isn’t an eternal given of humanity, but a constructed gear of civilization.

[insearchof-losttime]

[crocky-wock]

What do you mean "even with"?

I am so angry at our society for how our media phrase their news reports on Kate, Duchess of Cambridge. As in, they focus primarily on her clothing and hairstyles, of course. But more importantly, right now there is a local newspaper article today stating that:

"Even with her pregnancy belly, Kate still looks stunning".

I SO wish I lived in a culture where that headline would read: "ESPECIALLY with her pregnancy belly, Kate looks stunning." Or better yet: "Kate, Duchess of Kent, feeling good with her pregnancy. No major impact on her work for the country to be expected."

Then again, the main function of having a (representative) Royal Family is to cement traditional values in society's collective consciousness, I suppose, and to perpetuate outdated gender roles by means of the idolization and iconification of the so-called "nuclear family".

Goes to show that the Heterosexual Matrix helps perpetuating harmful body images of women, in this case by implying that a pregnancy belly is not and cannot be beautiful. Hmpf.

[izzyandrade-blog]

"Venus Xtravaganza's desires to be rich and to be a real woman"

I do believe that Venus's desire to be seen as a real woman who is white, rich, married, and that lives in the suburbs relates directly to the heterosexual matrix. In the 80s, especially, success was being and having all of that. That was, and for some people still is, the picture that pops into their head when someone says "successful." No trans people were directly visible in popular culture as being successful and rich and making something out of themselves out in the world. So people like Venus clung onto what she, and everyone else was engineered to believe was what they need to be successful and happy. In my opinion, a lot of trans people don't want to be seen as trans or have an indication associated with them (i.e. looks, mannerisms, etc.) that they ever were the opposite gender of what they identify as. They want to be true men and women and the thought of breaking down gender binaries goes right over their head. But it isn't their fault, they just want to fit in with society because everyone wants to be successful and the minute you are a minority, it seems that the ability to be successful gets taken away from you because of you not conforming to social norms and majorities. So was Venus influenced highly by the heterosexual matrix? Yes. But was it her fault? No.

[thesecretkeith]

The "gender matrix" story arch from the comic Sinfest.

I really love this as a parody but also as a little bit of commentary of gender binaries. Nice little nod to Judith Butler's heterosexual matrix.. or maybe it's just a coincidence. Either way.