In this essay I have looked deeper into the heteronormativity in Gun-Britt Sundströms Maken – en förhållanderoman. My focus has been on the maincharacter Martina; how she questions the heteronormativity and what consequences of her questioning this norm are. Through the eyes of queer researcher Fanny Ambjörnsson I have used a queer theoretical perspective in this essay.

My study shows that the fact that Martina is questioning the norm at all makes you realize that she is identifying the many obligations heterosexual relationships have. The norms she is questioning are the institution of marriage, the pressure to have a sexual relationship with your partner and to later on have children. Gustav wants the relationship to be the greater meaning of life but Martina does not want that - she wants a relationship resembling a friendship rather than the relationship of two passionate lovers.