Heteropatriarchy, sexual violence, and sexual fluidity

Abstract

This chapter explores the relationship between heteropatriarchy, sexual violence, and sexual fluidity among young Millennial women in Australia. It examines how sexual victimisation both precedes and follows changes in sexual identity away from heterosexuality. Using socio-spatial data collected from over 8,000 women, the research highlights how queer women’s unique positions in a heteropatriarchal order expose them to forms of violence such as prejudice, predation, and punishment. Additionally, it argues that sexual violence may motivate shifts in sexual identity, leading to increased engagement with non-heteronormative relationships. The chapter underscores the need for more qualitative research to understand queer women’s lived experiences of heteropatriarchy and sexual violence.