Queer Belonging in Romance: An Exploration into Heteronormativity within the Romance Genre

Abstract

[Thesis embargoed until 27 June 2026] Queer Belonging in Romance: An Exploration into Heteronormativity within the Romance Genre includes a creative thesis and exegesis for the Master in Creative Writing through Auckland University of Technology.

Belonging: The Polyverse Book One is the draft of a romance genre novel, in the subgenre of science fiction, and the creative component required for the Master of Creative Writing. Instead of featuring a typical, heterosexual couple, Belonging: The Polyverse Book One portrays a queer polyamorous triad, where traditional ideas of gender and sexuality are challenged within a futuristic space setting. The project aims to challenge the genre’s typical tropes, language, plot, themes, and character types to create an inclusive story for a diverse audience.

It is accompanied by An Exegesis in Queer Romance, which examines the romance genre’s treatment of queer identities, concentrating on the way in which heteronormativity exists within common tropes and characters.