Language, Heterosexism, and Identity: Normative Chilean Discursive Practices

Sara Balder

MA thesis directed by Professor Kira Hall

In Chile, a variety of conventionalized heterosexist comments and address terms circulate prevalently in everyday discourse. In a semantic and pragmatic analysis of twelve of these comments and nine address terms, I show that by presupposing an intrinsic relationship between gender and sexual orientation, heterosexist language plays a vital role in maintaining the standard social expectations surrounding gender and sexuality. I examine the role of these discursive practices in the social construction of heteronormative identity, and explore how they endorse the illegitimation and marginalization of gender and sexual minorities. Although seen as harmless jokes by those who regularly employ them, I argue that by subordinating sexual minorities, these discursive practices engender the reproduction of heteronormative beliefs in dominant society.

Sara Balder recently graduated from the Department of Linguistics at the University of Colorado. She can be reached at Sara.Balder@Colorado.EDU.

Colorado Research in Linguistics - Volume 18, Issue 1 - June 2005