One of the Boys: Masculinity, Homophobia, and Modern Manhood

by Plummer; David

• ISBN13: 9781560239741
• ISBN10: 1560239743
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1999-10-20
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

One of the Boys: Masculinity, Homophobia, and Modern Manhood takes a fresh look at the formation of modern male sexual identities. You will find that homophobia is not only widespread, but that it takes diverse forms and has far-reaching behavioral and social consequences. The new concept of "homophobic passage," which is part of the development of all young men, will enlighten you as to the proposed "causes" of homosexuality and heterosexuality. One of the Boys will help you discover how the passage of young males from childhood to adulthood plays an important role in formation of the modern adult male self in gay and straight men. As a result, this knowledge will allow you to offer relevant services to clients who are struggling with societal stereotypes and identity issues. From this informative book, you will discover how homophobia plays a role in the increase in violence experienced by gay men and lesbians in our culture today. To help you offer improved services, One of the Boys discusses why homophobia is widespread, takes diverse forms, andhas far-reaching behavioral and social consequences by: examining the school playground and its many effects on children'¬"s peer groups to discover how profoundly names like "crybaby" and "poofter" can impact a child'¬"s development learning that children often cannot escape harmful labels and stereotypes at home and realizing how it impacts a child'¬"s developing sense of self discovering the media'¬"s influence on role models and realizing the important role television and magazines play in providing information about homosexuality and homophobia realizing the heavy pressure homophobia exerts on men and how it shapes their relationships with women and other men, how emotionally close they allow themselves to get to people, how affectionate they are, and with whom they have sexual relations Through One of the Boys, you will gain valuable insight into the masculinity of the men interviewed and how it was shaped in order for you to develop a greater understanding of men and the many influences of society as a whole. This unique study investigates the development of homophobia and the meanings and significances people associate with it to help you understand how and where homophobia originates in our society.

Author Biography

David Plummer, PhD, MD, is Associate Professor in the School of Health at the University of New England in Australia. In addition he is a sexual health physician and health sociologist. He was the first National President of Australia's national top nongovernment AIDS body, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organizations (AFAO). Dr. Plummer is also an executive member of Australia's top governmental AIDS advisory body, the Australian National Council on AIDS and Related Diseases (ANCARD), which advises the Federal Health Minister.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	1	(2)
The Homophobic Puzzle	3	(36)
Defining Homophobia	3	(3)
Clarifying the Terms of Reference	6	(4)
The ``Epidemiology'' of Homophobia: Studies of Homophobic Violence	10	(14)
The Significance of Homophobia: Evidence from Twentieth-Century Public Life	24	(15)
Swearing Allegiance	39	(50)
Homophobic Meanings	40	(4)
Cataloging Homophobic Meanings	44	(15)
Evolving Homophobic Meanings: ``Onion Skinning''	59	(4)
The Power of Homophobic Words	63	(14)
Homophobia and ``Otherness''	77	(11)
Conclusions	88	(1)
Separating the Men from the Boys	89	(48)
School	89	(3)
The Divided School Ground	92	(21)
The Classroom	113	(5)
Home	118	(12)
The Media	130	(3)
Conclusions	133	(4)
Fashioning the Male ``Self''	137	(84)
Homophobia Prior to Adult Sexual Identity: Pressures That Shape Boys' Behavior	137	(12)
Homophobic Pressures from a Nonhomosexual Perspective	149	(17)
Homophobia and Being Homosexual	166	(37)
Homophobia and Identity	203	(15)
Conclusions	218	(3)
Regulating Male Intimacy	221	(70)
Physical Engagement: Sports	222	(20)
Manhood Exposed: The Change Rooms	242	(10)
Putting Those Fears to Bed: Sleeping Together	252	(4)
Knowing When to Get Off: Sexual Restraint and Transgression	256	(20)
Friendships, Relationships, and Being Homosexually Active	276	(12)
Conclusions	288	(3)
On the Origins of the Sexual Species	291	(16)
Homophobic Logic: Mobile Differences and Consistent Negative Bias	291	(4)
Between Suppression and Expression	295	(4)
Taming Polymorphous Perversity	299	(1)
Homophobic Passage: The Orderer of Things	300	(5)
Conclusions	305	(2)
Appendix A: Methods	307	(14)
The Choice of Methods	308	(1)
Methodological Theory	309	(1)
Sampling	310	(2)
Recruitment	312	(1)
Interview Structure	313	(2)
Analysis: Interpretation, Validity, and Wider Significance	315	(3)
Conclusions	318	(3)
Appendix B: Sample	321	(18)
Participant Profiles	323	(14)
Conclusions	337	(2)
Appendix C: ATLG Scores	339	(4)
References	343	(12)
Index	355