Masculinity as Homophobia: Fear, Shame, and Silence in the Construction of Gender Identity

Abstract

Examines the continually shifting meanings of masculinity as a function of social construction processes across time & cultures, focusing on the role of homophobia in structuring & maintaining dominant masculinities. Classical social & political theories are analyzed to reveal their constructions of both hegemonic & alternative masculinities, & the development of different models of manhood since the late 18th century is chronicled, including the "genteel patriarch," the "heroic artisan," & the "marketplace man" of urban capitalism. The function of masculinity as a "repudiation" of the feminine is discussed, focusing on the equation of maleness with heterosexuality. The role of homophobia in perpetrating forms of oppression, eg, sexism, racism, & heterosexism, is also examined. 35 References. K. Hyatt Stewart