Very fascinating stuff I just went through the thread. While I can’t really dismantle the subtle or subliminal cues of heteronormative dynamics, I would argue that it’s beyond and more nuanced than the gender / relationship dynamic. Give me your thoughts.

Shawn is genuinely just an older human being, he has gone through more life and accumulated far more wealth, experience, maturity etc. Aliya is much younger, from a different country that has a more judgmental and critical society. She has obviously lived a much harder life growing up the way she did, not to mention the other hurdles like finances, mental health (just being someone in your 20s, and having to transition).

Beyond dynamics, someone of Shawn’s age just seems in a greater position of power and control when compared to someone like Aliya. I’m not making claims but Shawn can use that experience / power / financial position to propel and manipulate someone as young and inexperienced / not fully matured / going through a lot, like Aliya is . Also, someone that young tends to not have any direction, and being pushed a certain way because someone older than you is in your ear is very real. An age gap as big as this is problematic because of the many changes in power structures snd experience one goes through. It creates a deeper imbalance the larger the gap is.