Masculinity as homophobia kimmel 2000 wrote what i consider one of the best articles on masculinity, sexism, and homophobia in his article masculinity as homophobia. It claims to have replaced hegemonic masculinity as a theoretical framework for exploring gender relations in societies that show. In adolescent masculinity, homophobia, and violence. Being a queer man, it was a very big struggle to balance my queer identity with this standard of masculinity that was. How does hegemonic masculinity intersect with homosexuality. The theme of masculinity and sexuality in brokeback. Masculinity is strongly molded by homophobia, the widespread fear of and contempt for homosexuals.
Introduced in 1972 by psychologist george weinberg in his book society and the healthy homosexual, the term generally means fear or phobia of homosexuals. Daniela gennrich explains that masculinity refers to what it means to be a man as defined by specific sociocultural contexts gennrich, 20. This article draws on 3,500 responses from fans and professionals involved in association football soccer to an anonymous online survey posted from june 2010 to october 2010 regarding their views towards gay footballers. Article adolescent masculinity, homophobia, and violence. The declining significance of homophobia has received considerable press coverage, much of which can be found here. Cultural critiques and analyses however, scholars of hiphop music have tied this genre to stereotypically masculine themes, such as violence and the denunciation of lgbt identity, in their essays on the subject. In order to understand the phenomenon of samesex sexual relations, we must. The roots of homophobia hating gays an overview of. Information and resources for tasmanian parents and families of young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, sexuality diverse and gender diverse. Kimmel, manhood is socialized into a very rigid definition of masculinity. Homophobia is the irrational hatred, intolerance, and fear of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender lgbt people, and is a form of discrimination. The relationship between masculinity and homophobia in father. Homophobia and physical aggression toward homosexual and heterosexual individuals jeffrey a. Adams, and amos zeichner university of georgia this study examined the relationship between homophobia defined as selfreported negative affect, avoidance, and aggression toward homosexuals and homosexual aggression.
In the united states, it is acceptable and common for a woman to be very intimate around her friends. Kimmel is claiming that homophobia is basically the result of hyper masculinity. Discrimination survey showed, on average over half of eu citizens consider that discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation is widespread in their country. As mentioned above, a central prescription contained in hegemonic masculinity is heterosexuality, referred to as compulsory heterosexuality. Hence, sport has been widely recognized as an institution that promotes heterosexuality over homosexuality. The declining significance of homophobia mark mccormack, phd. Jack and ennis s homosexuality defies the masculine norms under which they have been raised, leaving them unable to reconcile their understanding of the lives they are supposed to lead as men with the relationships they want to pursue. Do men feel the same way about their male friends, or even family members.
Religious affiliation, internalized homophobia, and mental. A reaction to the self examined specific areas as the predictors of homophobia. There are two main theories as to what causes homosexual attractions. Homophobia as a technology of othering functions by denying the masculinity of the otherthrough projecting despised nonmasculine aspects onto the otherin order to emphasise the masculinity of the self. Homophobia may stem from a persons own hidden homosexuality, finds new research on the link between antigay behaviors and parenting style. Specifically, gender selfdiscrepancy how well males think they fit cultural. Themediaandthemodelsofmasculinity download free pdf epub. Masculinity, as he describes it, is a sort of defensive act to prevent being humilated and shamed by other men.
Proulx explores the intersection of masculinity and homosexuality by illustrating the ways in which society sees any deviation from the very narrow. Tennessee williams uses heterosexual characters as surrogates to discuss queer sexuality in a time when homosexuality was a taboo, and typically discussed through metaphor. Kimmel points out an important part of masculinity is measuring up to the other males in life. Several sociocultural norms influence how societies view what it means to be a man of which vary, and often include sexual identity, family life, as well as religious and cultural. Abstract heterosexual masculinity is the cultural pressure exerted on males to be masculine in traits and heterosexual in orientation or else be viewed as feminine and socially unacceptable. We go on to argue that in addition to taking gender seriously, a reasoned approach to understanding school shootings must focus not on the form of the. Homophobia, hegemonic masculinity, and the boy scouts of. Homophobic violence and masculinities in australia by. It is also shaped to a significant extent by the stigmatization of homosexuality frank, 1987. Homophobia is a colloquial expression that refers to negative, fearful, or hateful attitudes and behavior toward gays and lesbians.
I wrote this psychology paper for one of my psychology courses. Fear, shame, and silence in the construction of gender identity. Fag is not necessarily a static identity attached to a particular homosexual boy. Homophobia definition in the cambridge english dictionary. In theorizing masculinities, edited by harry brod and michael kaufman, 119141, research on men and masculinities series. While research on gay mens experience with masculinity continues. Homophobia, culturally produced fear of or prejudice against homosexuals that sometimes manifests itself in legal restrictions or, in extreme cases, bullying or even violence against homosexuals sometimes called gay bashing.
The impact of masculine ideals on gay mens selfimage. Although many views have changed, homophobia is still a big issue in society, no matter whom it is learned from. To accomplish this i first uncover some of the hidden gender meanings in classical statements of social and political philosophy, so that i can anchor the emergence of contemporary manhood in. This is the first and perhaps the most basic question about homosexuality. The fear of being identified as a poofter leads men to behave in hypermasculine and aggressive ways and to. In this article, i explore this social and historical construction of both hegemonic masculinity and alternate masculinities, with an eye toward offering a new. Homophobia is a form of cultural prejudice rather than a manifestation of an individual phobia. Machismo and homophobia 65 surprise that the most common insult among boys who are working out their sense of manhood among other boys is maricdn, the cultural equivalent of faggot. Themediaandthemodelsof masculinity free download ebook in pdf and epub. Homosexual masculinity is an important locus of these dynamics. One particular element of this was heightened sexism and homophobia and was illustrated by the dreadful reaction by fans, the media, team mates and opposition players to the decision by justin fashanu to come out in 1990 during a period of high cultural homophobia.
Sexuality, masculinity and homophobia in association. In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content ray i hunks, history, and homophobia. The term homophobia was coined in the late 1960s and was used. Participants were asked in what ways they felt gay mens selfimages were positively and adversely affected by the ideals of masculinity in u.
Sep 03, 2005 homophobia among university students the term homophobia, sometimes referred to as homonegativity and sexual prejudice, refers to an unreasonable fear, avoidance, and discrimination of homosexuals. The term is a misnomer in that it implies an irrational fear of homosexuals similar to the panic of claustrophobia. Specifically, gender selfdiscrepancy how well males think. Pdf heterosexual masculinity is the cultural pressure exerted on males to be masculine in traits and heterosexual in orientation or else be viewed as. Kimmel michael kimmel argues that american men are socialized into a very rigid and limiting definition of masculinity. Exploring homophobia as alternative discourses of masculinity in dancehall culture. Specifically, the present study was designed to investigate. Our investigation also shows that in their everyday life lgbt persons experience homophobia.
Gay men homosexuality, masculinity, gender roles, femininity, straightacting. Homophobia leads men to limit their loving and close friendships with other men. February 4, 20 by thefemmelens in hegemonic masculinity and us 2 comments. When i was fifteen or sixteen, my father asked me if i was gay.
Kimmel 1994 argues that homophobia forms the central. In january, the boy scouts of america met to vote on their policy that excludes membership to gays, lesbians, and transgendered. Connell university of california, santa cruz i develop a conceptual approach to changes in masculinity that emphasizes the dynamics of the gender order as a whole. Heterosexual masculinity, gender conformity, homophobia peter s. But a deeper reading of the text suggests the opposite. How individuals develop an understanding of their gender identity, including whether or not they fit into these prescribed gender roles, depends upon the context within. Stephen, homophobic violence and masculinities in australia april 10. Michael kimmel argues that american men are socialized into a very rigid and limiting definition of. This anxiety leads many males to reject gay men as a means to reaffirming their sense of masculinity harry, 1990.
I am disappointed by the discussion of gender issues or gender stratification in textbooks. The concealed homosexuality in a streetcar named desire. Grounds of sexual orientation homophobia and discrimination. Heterosexual masculinity and homophobia essay 676 words. The idea of homophobia refers to the intolerance of homosexuals in society. The construction of black jamaican masculinity in a. Simple, because men are afraid to be considered unmanly gay or feminine by other men, causing them to. You will find that homophobia is not only widespread, but that it. Pdf fans, homophobia and masculinities in association. Masculinity as homophobia and other readings genderculture. He asserts american manhood is really a fear of other men.
While it can be acknowledged that homophobia is not as widespread in western culture as it once was, i would like to make a few basic observations that challenge how significant and. Fear, shame, and silence in the construction of gender identity according to michael s. May 24, 2010 masculinity as homophobia kimmel 2000 wrote what i consider one of the best articles on masculinity, sexism, and homophobia in his article masculinity as homophobia. Fag talk and fag imitations serve as a discourse with which. Feb 04, 20 the influence of heteronormativity and hegemonic masculinity on homophobia february 4, 20 by thefemmelens in hegemonic masculinity and us 2 comments while it can be acknowledged that homophobia is not as widespread in western culture as it once was, i would like to make a few basic observations that challenge how significant and. We explored gender role strain grs arising from conflict between homosexuality and cultural conceptions of masculinity among young black men who have sex with men msm. Sociological perspectives on sexual orientation and inequality. Hegemonic masculinity is the stereotypic notion of masculinity that shapes the socializa. Grounded in the theories of masculinities with explicit connections between various theoretical perspectives and the readings, this book examines unique domains, such as the presidency or mens responses to feminism. Masculinity politics in braveheart ana edward il sid ray pace university hunks, history, and homophobia. Reported effects of masculine ideals on gay men ncbi nih. Gender discrepancy is how well a male thinks that he fits the cultural expectations of how they should act as a man. She feels comfortable enough to hug, sit close, and talk about her feelings and emotions with them.
Homophobia and physical aggression toward homosexual and. Masculinity as homophobia is a good primer into learning what the patriarchy is, the barebones approach to teaching men why theyre supposed to be manly and play into the archetype gender roles that society has built up. Finally, the authors offer a few possible explanations as to how most boys who are teased and bullied achieve the psychological resilience that enables them to weather adolescence without recourse to. Human sexuality is a fundamental part of psychological development and is inevitably a part of all psychotherapy. Instead, we have to tackle the fear and ignorance that sends men running in the first place, and reject the idea that if you question masculinity you must be gay. The discussion was prompted by sernas recent blog post, gay, latino and macho, which examines the impact that machismo has on gay latino men. Pdf heterosexual masculinity and homophobia researchgate. Jamaican males readings of masculinities and the relationship to violence 81. Many participants 24% were unable to list how masculine ideals positively impacted their selfimage. Masculinity, homophobia, and modern manhood takes a fresh look at the formation of modern male sexual identities. It has been covered by publications including the economist, the observer, the daily mail, the sunday times and new internationalist, as well as on multiple radio stations including bbc radio 4, bbc radio 1 and cbc radio 1. We go on to argue that in addition to taking gender seriously, a reasoned approach to understanding school shootings must focus not on the form of the shootings not on questions of family history, psychological pathologies, or. Within this form of masculinity, machismo, sexism, homophobia, and manhood are all inexorably linked.
Hegemonic masculinity is neither normative in the numerical sense, as only a small minority of men may enact it, nor in an actual sense, as the cultural ideal of masculinity is often a fantasy figure, such as john wayne or john rambo. Kimmel in the article masculinity as homophobia, michael s. We investigate the relationship between exposure to nonaffirming religious environments and internalized homophobia and mental health in a sample of lgbs in new york city. Machismo and homophobia challenging male supremacy. Follow this link to make a once off or regular taxdeductible donation to working it out. Homophobia, masculinity, and threatened identities the irrationalityignorance hypothesis homophobia is an irrational fear based in social training little boy grows up in conservative home, hears parents talking about the fags on tv models parents behavior. As kimmel 1994 posited, it is not only the very explicit fear and disapproval of gay men that links masculinity and homophobia, but also the various implicit. Homophobia and masculinity science leadership academy. Academic attention towards masculinity, homophobia and sexuality in male team sports began in the 1980s with an emphasis on the continued maintenance of a. In this article, i explore this social and historical construction of both hegemonic masculinity and alternate masculinities, with an eye toward offering a new theoretical model of american manhood. The current study investigated the link between heterosexual masculinity and homophobia in 74 college males. Article information, pdf download for sexuality, masculinity and.
Mens fear of homosexuality results in an obsession with masculinity and avoidance of any type of physical or emotional behavior with other men. Allan grey, its unseen gay character, makes homosexuality a seemingly marginal topic within the play. Journal of homosexuality masculinities and sexualities in. Masculinity politics in braveheart and edward ii mei gibson center playswilliam wallace leading scottish warriors againstthetyrannyoftheir english oppressors in theoscarwinning. Random school shootings, 19822001 michael kimmel and matthew mahler argue that masculinity, and feelings of inferiority as it pertains to masculinity, may be the major contributing factor to acts of mass violence, particularly in schools. Many experts say no, because of the combination of hyper masculinity and homophobia that men learn starting at a very young age.
May 21, 20 i wrote this psychology paper for one of my psychology courses. Whilst these studies on masculinity as homophobia are situated at the microlevel, these processes are embedded in a macro structure. Acts of homophobia happen at an individual, cultural, structural or legal level and pose a major barrier to accessing and delivering hiv services. Canadian homohegemony and the homophobic other kyle jackson phd candidate queens university, kingston, ontario, canada abstract in this discussion, i demonstrate that canadian news media texts, centered in toronto, serve to ideologically construct jamaica as a homophobic other. Here kuper argues that toxic masculinity is the foremost psychosocial barrier to psychotherapy among incarcerated men, defining toxic masculinity as, the constellation of socially regressive male traits that serve to foster domination, the devaluation of women, homophobia, and wanton violence 714. Society has greatly changed their views on homosexuality over the years, yet homophobia still exists today. Theodore, at the writing of this paper, was a research associate at the center for hivaids educational studies and training at. Bbc sport 2010a pfa chief says homophobia not high on football agenda. Homosexuals carry the burden of portraying and embodying the failure scenario, a reminder of masculinity. What is hegemonic masculinity and the different types of. Fear, shame, and silence in the construction of gender. Men and society is a new anthology that provides a fresh and comprehensive introduction to the field of critical masculinity studies. Jun 16, 2014 on masculinity, homophobia, and cutting the grass. Homophobia, hegemonic masculinity, and the boy scouts of america.
Another area explored was attribute importance, or the. Men are said to fear such ridicules as being too feminine by other men. Sexuality, masculinity and homophobia in association football. Do you think brannon s sum niarization of manhood still applies today. Feb 01, 2000 while it necessarily skips over some of the history, the author shares a wellsupported history of the possible origins of homophobia, its connections with misogyny and sexism, and speculation as to why it remains one of the last acceptable prejudices sexism and even misogyny are still pretty widespread. Do you think this definition has changed at all in recent years. Higgins 2009 noted that this link most likely exists within hiphop culture due to its ties to street culture, where overthetop. The influence of heteronormativity and hegemonic masculinity on homophobia. Thus, we argue that any approach to understanding school shootings must take gender seriously specifically the constellation of adolescent masculinity, homophobia, and violence. A social psychological perspective on attitudes toward lesbians and gay men by gregory m. South african men and their construction of masculinities.
The situation concerning homophobia and discrimination on. They argue that masculinity, more specifically white masculinity, may be intrinsically linked with. Masculinity as homophobia masculinity as homophobia fear. Mar 02, 2012 in the essay masculinity as homophobia, michael s. Hyper masculinity is the emphasis on stereotypical gender roles that are placed on men for example men being tough and strong. He states that men fear being ridiculed as too feminine by other men and this fear perpetuates homophobic and exclusionary masculinity.
Homosexuality raises particular concerns that are relevant to all. Homophobia homophobia is a commonly used term in today’s world. The influence of heteronormativity and hegemonic masculinity. We conducted a categorical analysis a qualitative, 3stage. A link between adolescent masculinity, homophobia, and violence is proposed. Theorizing sex, gender, and sexuality discussion questions ophobia. In this chapter, i view masculinity as a constantly changing collection of meanings that we construct. Im not homophobic, ive got gay friends sage journals. What is the hegemonic definition of manhood accotding to kimmel. This particular reaction paper was based upon a class discussion of gender stereotypes for men and women. Apr 17, 2016 homophobic violence and masculinities in australia. As early as 1991, riggs 1991 noted that references to, and representations of, african. Homophobia is often understood in the mens movement as referring mainly to the fear of intimacy of men, and it is widely accepted that homophobia therefore blocks the development.