“Straight-acting to the Front”: Investigating theInfluence of a Sexually Normative Double-bind onGay and Lesbian Students at a South AfricanUniversity Campus

Abstract

Heteronormativity posits heterosexuality as the only acceptable and normalpresentation of gendered and sexual identities. Similarly, homonormativitystructures social life along heteronormative beliefs and ideals to constructconventional gay and lesbian identities. This article comments on a criticalsociological exploration of the influences of these sexual normativities on theidentity construction of gay and lesbian students at one campus of a SouthAfrican university. Discourse was explored through a qualitative researchparadigm focused on the lived experiences and reported narratives of gay andlesbian students. Three findings emerged from the data: first, how theparticipants socially constructed and performed their "ideal" gay and lesbianidentities according to interrelated and mutually reinforcing hetero- andhomonormative principles; second, these idealised typologies informed thesocial placement of gay and lesbian students on campus; finally, said idealsresulted in a so-called sexually normative double-bind that required gay andlesbian students to continuously navigate their membership of in- and/or out-groups on campus.