Compulsory Heterosexuality (CompHet)

Compulsory Heterosexuality — the societal pressure that assumes everyone is or should be attracted to the opposite gender, and that romantic and sexual relationships with the opposite gender are the only valid path. The term is often shortened to "comphet."

The concept was popularized by Adrienne Rich's 1980 essay "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence," which argued that heterosexuality is enforced by society, not naturally chosen.

For many queer people, comphet explains confusing experiences: dating the "expected" gender, feeling that something is wrong, or realizing attraction to the same gender later in life because it was never presented as an option. Recognizing comphet is often a step toward discovering or accepting one's identity.