The notion of ‘flaunting’ as a tool for heteronormative social control Cover Image

Pojęcie „obnoszenie się” jako narzędzie heteronormatywnej kontroli społecznej
The notion of ‘flaunting’ as a tool for heteronormative social control

Author(s): Dorota Majka-Rostek
Subject(s): Applied Linguistics, Sociology
Published by: Instytut Profilaktyki Społecznej i Resocjalizacji UW
Keywords: homosexuality; heteronormativity; social control

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses the specific notion of ‘flaunting’ in contemporary discourse on homosexuality. This term has been present in public discussions, media comments, in political statements and as such mirrors social attitudes towards gays and lesbians. The paper presents some elements of sociocultural contexts where the notion of ‘flaunting’ is used, as well as control functions exerted through the reliance on this notion. The term is used to impose heteronormative order upon social reality and to separate the norm from the non-norm by means of control over the division of social reality into private and public spheres. Heteronormative social control is exerted from outside and from inside: in fact, homosexual people can internalize its rules and recognize the belief that they should not ‘flaunt’, i.e. disclose their identity in public sphere.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 17-18
  • Page Range: 63-75
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish