Heteronormativity in Norwegian Social Work Journals

Abstract

The purpose of this review was to examine whether heteronormativity is reproduced or problematized within Norwegian social work journals. It is based on a study that explored how sexuality is addressed in social work journal articles and extends past reviews by also analysing heterosexuality. The data comprised of 572 articles published in the major Norwegian social work journals between 2002 and 2014. A keyword search and a thematic analysis was used to first determine how many articles addressed sexuality and second to develop a closer analysis of how sexuality was addressed in the identified articles. Queer theory guided the analysis. Findings revealed that heteronormativity was problematized in five of the six (1%) articles that addressed sexuality, indicating that heteronormativity is reproduced in Norwegian social work journals and that those in position in authority in the field of social work routinely deploy heterosexuality as a taken-for-granted resource. If power asymmetries are to be destabilized, strategies that counteract the power basis of the hegemonic norm are necessary, such as addressing the binary opposition of heterosexuality vs. non-heterosexuality, and naming heterosexuality.