A Very “Gay” Straight?: Hybrid Masculinities, Sexual Aesthetics, and the Changing Relationship between Masculinity and Homophobia
Abstract
This article addresses a paradoxical stance taken by young straight men in three groups who identify aspects of themselves as “gay” to construct heterosexual masculine identities. By subjectively recognizing aspects of their identities as “gay,” these men discursively distance themselves from stereotypes of masculinity and privilege and/or frame themselves as politically progressive. Yet, both of these practices obscure the ways they benefit from and participate in gender and sexual inequality. I develop a theory of “sexual aesthetics” to account for their behavior and its consequences, contributing to a growing body of theory regarding the hybridization of contemporary masculinities and complicating theories of sexual practice.
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Cultural notions of masculinity are strongly tied to heterosexuality.
“many researchers have documented the strong ties between cultural notions of masculinity and of heterosexuality”
From Intersections between Sexual Identity, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Behavior among a Nationally Representative Sample of American Men and Women (2019) · cites this paper as Bridges 2014
There has been increasing interest among social scientists to explore and analyze sexual identities and measures that exist on the borders of heterosexuality and homosexuality, such as queer, asexual, pansexual, fluid, or heteroflexible.
“there has been increasing interest among social scientists to explore and analyze sexual identities and measures that exist on the borders of heterosexuality and homosexuality, such as queer, asexual, pansexual, fluid, or heteroflexible (Bridges 2014; Callis 2014; Compton et al. 2015; Savin-Williams and Vrangalova 2013; Silva 2016; Ward 2008).”
From Intersections between Sexual Identity, Sexual Attraction, and Sexual Behavior among a Nationally Representative Sample of American Men and Women (2019) · cites this paper as Bridges 2014
Cites
Hegemonic Masculinity: Rethinking the Concept
Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005) · Gender & Society · doi:10.1177/0891243205278639 · Cited by 9,367 · see citing works
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Weaponized Subordination: How Incels Discredit Themselves to Degrade Women
Halpin, M. (2022) · Gender & Society · doi:10.1177/08912432221128545 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Mishel, E. (2019) · Journal of Official Statistics · doi:10.2478/jos-2019-0036 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
“…scientists to explore and analyze sexual identities and measures that exist on the borders of heterosexuality and homosexuality, such as queer, asexual, pansexual, fluid, or heteroflexible (Bridges 2014; Callis 2014; Compton et al. 2015; Savin-Williams and Vrangalova 2013; Silva 2016; Ward 2008).”
Background
- Authors
- Bridges, T.
- Affiliations
- SUNY Brockport (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bridges, Tristan
- ORCID
- Bridges, Tristan
- Venue
- Gender & Society
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-09-26
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 58-82
- ISSN
- 0891-2432 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-3977
- OpenAlex
- W2145579244
- Cited by
- 236
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 9
- FWCI
- 33.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Gender & Society (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender, Sexuality, and Education
- Keywords
- heterosexual masculinity, hybrid masculinity, masculinity stereotypes, sexual inequality, gender inequality, sexual identity development, sexual practices
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