Heterosexual Normality in He, She, and It

The term "heterosexual normality" refers to the sexual confines that exist within a society that adapts to a hegemonic idea of sexuality. This includes (but is not limited to) the ideas that sex only should involve one man and one woman in "traditional" intercourse, that marriage exists only between a man and a woman, that a woman's place is in the kitchen, and that men cannot be emotional.

The representations in Marge Piercy's novel He, She, and It break the idea of heterosexual normality by redefining what type of sexuality is socially acceptable. Shira, by engaging in a relationship with a machine, refuses to confine herself to the societal ideal that she is supposed to love one man, and only one man. Similarly, Riva breaks the mold by rejecting the idea of male/female relationships completely and engaging in homosexual activities with Nili. Even Malkah, with her multitude of sexual exploits, refuses to conform to the social standards of sexuality in her society by breaking the idea that older women are chaste and virginal. He, She, and It rejects Heterosexual Normality in lieu of a "better" idea: that men and women alike should be free to express themselves sexually with whomever (and whatever) they want to.

In reflections of her adolescence, Shira appears to be a "straight" woman. She does not hinder any desire for a same-sex relationship, and the idea of a relationship with a non-traditional male eludes her. In fact, before her encounter with Yod, Shira's only sexual relationships are with human males. Shira first discovers sex with Gadi (44) and, although she learns that Gadi's father is building experimental robots who look like humans (45), she does not appear to consider the idea of having a sexual relationship with one until she meets Yod.