Thursday, February 16, 2017
Straight men having sex with other straight men isn't gay?
I saw this article on Twitter with a debate about whether or not this article and the science behind it are trying to preserve heteronormative masculinity and erase male bisexuality. Personally, I think it's showing another dimension to the idea we have about sexuality and identification as well as a good example of sexual and romantic attraction not necessarily lining up. What about anyone else?
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Interestingly I know of a lot of females who identify the same way as these males do (using the same sex person as a vessel for sexual pleasure and the opposite sex person for partnerships -> "In other words, men view other men as a vessel for sexual pleasure and women more like life partners or companions.").
ReplyDeleteI like how the article points out these men aren't gay (or afraid to identify as bi) since "sexuality is a spectrum and not a rule." I also like how the article says it's the person's understanding and acceptance of their actions and desire that defines them, not society or labels.
The only downfall with this article is they don't reveal the sample demographics/ details. I wish I knew the age of these men and where they came from (liberal or conservative state, college campus, etc.).
I just love the "science says" at the end of this headline. It's remarkable how we still revere scientific evidence within analysis of LGBTQ issues/behavior, even though it has been historically used to oppress these communities. Could modern science offer a new, Kinsey-esque appeal for what Smith-Rosenberg calls a more open and free "continuum" of romantic and sexual expression? And will we be more receptive to this argument because of its "scientific" quality? Or would a more social-constructionist understanding--think Smith-Rosenberg--be more useful in advocating for this sort of freedom in sexual preference and action? I can't decide!
ReplyDeleteI think this is very relevant to our discussion on essentialism and social constructionism. I've talked to many people who argue that men are biologically less fluid than women in terms of their sexuality, and that woman are innately more flexible with their sexuality. I have thought this many times as well, and wonder if this has merit in light of the fact that sexuality is socially constructed. Perhaps men seem less fluid because our society doesn't give them an opportunity to be--we have a tendency to label any man as automatically gay if he has sex with another man, whereas women can "experiment" and not be shamed.
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