Heterosexual privilege dialogue addresses diversity

The Chancellor's Diversity Initiative sponsored the event.

By Krissy Tripp

Published Oct. 17, 2008

Students discussed heterosexual privileges some take for granted at the Heterosexual Privilege dialogue sponsored by You In Mizzou, a division of the Chancellor's Diversity Initiative.

The point of the dialogue is to challenge MU students and faculty to learn about and discuss diversity and how diversity issues affect campus. This dialogue specifically focused on the privileges that heterosexuals often take for granted and how it affects everyone around them.

The meeting began with everyone sitting in three separate circles that kept the conversations small and more personal. Then, Noor Azizan-Gardner, Chancellor's Diversity Initiative director of Diversity Programming and Professional Development, asked a couple of people to switch circles. This allowed for every circle to be equally diverse.

The dialogue addressed what heterosexual privilege is, how it affects students and what has influenced their views about heterosexuality being normal.

Participants, who ranged from college freshmen to senior citizens, also brought their own discussion points to the table.

Sophomore Jordan Leinen said she saw two men walking down the street holding hands, and though she fully supported their decision, she was bothered that two men holding hands stood out to her so much.

Azizan-Gardner, who took part in the conversation, said when people see a heterosexual couple, they don't think "Wow, a straight couple," but even those who don't mind gay couples notice when they walk by.

Senior Whitney Phillips said that before, if she saw a man in a skirt, she would think, "Why is he telling people he's gay?" Not all cross-dressers, however, are gay.

The majority of participants agreed that ideas of sexual norms are formed when people are growing up. People at the dialogue said that's the way it is, and the way that society says it should be.

Others commented on their thoughts about the difference between seeing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning people and heterosexual people. It's unlikely for LGBTQ couples to appear in advertisements, greeting cards or every day life. When many see an LGBTQ couple anywhere, their first thought is accusing them of being "loud and proud."

Phillips said she believes the media is making progress, but she also doesn't like exactly how they represent LGBTQ issues because she thinks the media sends a message that says, "If you're drunk, it's OK."

Katy Perry's hit song "I Kissed A Girl" was referenced during the dialogue to support Phillips's claim.

Telecommunications operator Jen Smith said when someone isn't the way society thinks they should be, it's not hard to figure out. She said she feels that whether directly or indirectly, society shames the different.

Professor emeritus Peter Gardner, who was an undergraduate 50 years ago, said when he was growing up, the media didn't give as much exposure, but society didn't tell him what kind of sexuality was OK. In his college days, he said he had a very diverse group of friends who enjoyed being different. Today, he said he's astonished youth aren't more exposed to diversity.