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HighnessEelMaster606
In 1977 Martin Rochlin introduced his “Heterosexual Questionnaire”…
In 1977 Martin Rochlin introduced his “Heterosexual Questionnaire” as a tool to help heterosexual persons understand the many ways in which persons who identify outside of a heterosexual binary are asked to justify and explain themselves.
Still today, we live in an overtly heterosexual society where power and privilege are ascribed to those who are cisgender and heterosexual.
As social work practitioners, it is critical that we understand the many ways in which our clients are marginalized and oppressed – and understanding heterosexist thinking is part of that.
Rochlin’s questionnaire was created to help non-LGBTQIA persons understand how it feels to be faced with this form of oppression. The questionnaire uses a false “heterophobic” premise – rather than transphobic, heterosexist, etc. points of view that permeate in our society.
Thus, this assignment asks that you review the questions on the “Heterosexual Questionnaire” and to, assuming the identity of a heterosexual human, think about how you would answer the questions and how answering the questions makes you feel.
Note here that this exercise is focused on sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is not a binary and examples of sexual orientation include lesbian, gay, heterosexual, asexual, bisexual, polysexual, pansexual or omnisexual.
If you are a student who does not identify as heterosexual and the oppression and injustice discussed here is something you have personally experienced and felt, the goal of this assignment is certainly not to discount your experiences. If you would rather respond to an alternative prompt about experiences you have had that have shaped your experience, see below – the choice is yours and yours only! It is never our intent to out students in an assignment though – so please choose the prompt that works best for you in this moment in time.
PROMPT 1 – EXPLORING THE IDEA OF PRIVILEGE USING A FALSE “HETEROPHOBIC” FRAME:
There are 24 questions, read them all and answer at least 5 of them. You are answering them for your own learning, not to write out/share the answers in your discussion. You will reflect on your reaction to answering the questions.
What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
When and how did you first decide you were a heterosexual?
Is it possible that your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?
Is it possible that your heterosexuality is just a phase you may grow out of?
Isn’t it possible that all you need is a good gay lover?
Heterosexuals have histories of failure in gay relationships. Do you think you may have turned to
heterosexuality out of fear of rejection?
If you’ve never slept with a person of the same sex, how do you know that you wouldn’t prefer that?
If heterosexuality is normal, why are a disproportionate number of mental patients heterosexual?
To whom have you disclosed your heterosexual tendencies? How did they react?
Your heterosexuality doesn’t offend me so long as you don’t try to force it on me. Why do you people
feel compelled to seduce others into your sexual orientation?
If you should choose to nurture children, would you want them to be heterosexual, knowing the
problems they would face?
The great majority of child molesters are heterosexuals. Do you really consider it safe to expose your
children to heterosexual teachers?
Why do you insist on being so obvious, and making a public spectacle of your heterosexuality? Can’t
you just be who you are and keep it quiet?
How can you ever hope to become a whole person if you limit yourself to a compulsive, exclusive,
heterosexual object choice, and remain unwilling to explore and develop your normal, healthy, God-given
homosexual potential?
Heterosexuals are noted for assigning themselves and each other narrowly restricted, stereotyped sex-
roles. Why do you cling to such unhealthy role playing?
How can you enjoy a fully satisfying sexual experience or deep emotional rapport with a person of the
opposite sex, when the obvious, biological, and temperamental differences between you are so vast? How
can a man understand what pleases a woman sexually, or vice versa?
Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?
With all the societal support marriage
receives, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?
Shouldn’t you ask the fringe straight types, like swingers, Hell’s Angels, and Jesus freaks, to conform
more? Wouldn’t that improve your image?
How could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual, considering the menace of
overpopulation?
There seem to be very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed with which you might
be able to change if you really want to. Have you considered trying aversion therapy?
Do heterosexuals hate or distrust others of the same sex? Is that what makes them heterosexual?
Why are heterosexuals so promiscuous?
Could you really trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective and unbiased? Don’t you fear he/she might
be inclined to influence you in the direction of her/his own feelings?
In your discussion board you should answer the following:
After reading these questions and answering 5-7 of them, how do you feel?
Which questions did you answer? (Just provide the # for the questions you reflected on, you do not need to type out your answers)
Remember, we created a “heterophobic” construct with these questions – heterosexual persons are not typically asked to “defend” their sexual orientation. How did it feel to have to defend a heterosexual orientation?
How does this exercise help you to think about your role as a social work practitioner with clients with diverse sexual orientations?
What’s one step you can take in practice to ensure that you are not making heterosexist assumptions in your practice?
