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Assignment 07

Heterosexism is a great way in which you can analyze the relationship between gender difference and human rights. In V. Spike Peterson and Laura Parisi’s, Are Women Human? It’s Not an Academic Question, they discuss multiple ways that this argument is supported. Due to heterosexism, men and women are paired together and more often than not, the man has more power in the relationship. It is the normal sexual orientation in society and anything aside from it is viewed as less instead of equal. If an individual chooses a different sexual orientation, they receive less support and rights than ones that are heterosexual since it is the norm.

Men in heterosexual relationships usually have more power than women and this is seen as normal in society. If women suffer or have less rights than men, they are often ignored if it benefits men and will also receive no support from others. Sexual orientations or identities other than the norm are rejected and ignored. Because of heterosexism, binary genders are encouraged and supported and anything else is looked down upon and not accepted. In heterosexual relationships, men’s rights and interests are placed and valued over women’s rights and interests. Masculinism in state formation also makes matters worse by further controlling women in order to ‘better’ the state and men. This further oppresses women and widens the gap between men and women.

In conclusion, heterosexism is a very precise way to analyze this relationship. Due to the common pairing of male and female and placing men above women in this relationship, it is easy to view the gender difference and the many issues women face when compared to men. Men receive more rights and attention to their interests whereas women don’t receive the same. Also, any other sexual identities and orientations are often rejected and not considered.