pursuinghet

pursuinghet is a term used primarily in online fan communities and writing discourse to describe the practice or preference of foregrounding heterosexual relationships in narrative works. The term blends "pursuing" with "het," an abbreviation for heterosexual. Its usage is informal and not widely standardized, and it often appears in meta discussions about shipping, canon vs. fanon pairings, and audience expectations.

In practice, pursuinghet may influence which pairings receive emphasis in fan fiction, fan art, or discussions, and can be used to analyze how narratives treat romance, gender, and sexuality. Some writers employ it to explore het dynamics intentionally, while critics may view it as reinforcing heteronormativity when it dominates storytelling or interpretation.

The term is not widely attested in scholarly literature and is mainly found in informal discourse; meanings can vary by community. As such, its definition tends to reflect the norms and debates of the particular online space in which it appears.

Related concepts include het, hetship, canon, fanon, and broader discussions of representation in media. Users should consider the surrounding context when encountering pursuinghet, as the term lacks a formal standard and may carry different implications depending on who uses it and for what purpose.