“Because it was expected”: Heterosexism as a Determinant of Pregnancy among Sexually Diverse Youth

Sexually diverse youth are more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to be involved in a pregnancy. The social exclusion (heterosexism and homophobia) experienced by sexually diverse youth may help to contribute to our theoretical understanding of the phenomenon. Seventy-one sexually diverse youth and 23 service providers participated in interviews and focus groups which were transcribed and thematically coded. Pregnancy involvement can be understood as a response to heterosexism, where the “dominance of heterosexuality” in youths' lives produce extreme pressures to conform to heterosexist expectations of relationships and a desire to prove one's heterosexuality through heterosexual sex.