Suchergebnisse

Uses Dick Armey's 1995 apology for referring to Democratic Representative Barney Frank as "Barney Fag" to explore the symbolic aspects of right-wing discourses that flow from the Religious Right, neoconservatism, & the new racism. The increasing sophistication of all three discourses is emphasized, noting how the American Right has redefined "freedom," "equality," & "democracy" in an exclusionary manner that condemns the "special rights" advocated by proponents of civil rights, black power, welfare rights, feminist, & sexual liberation movements. Attention is called to the contradictory nature of the Religious Right's attitude toward gays/lesbians as evidenced by their simultaneous disavowal of homophobia while pursuing homophobic tactics. Ways in which the Religious Right, neoconservatives, & new racists defend traditional class, race, gender, & sexual inequalities while pretending to advance liberal democratic rights/freedoms are explored. It is argued that Armey's slip of the tongue, & his subsequent apology, must be examined in the broader context of the contemporary Right's efforts to bring Republican extremism into the mainstream by redefining the meaning of the democratic tradition. J. Lindroth

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

A discussion of the 1970s-1980s sexual abuse of boys by Catholic priests & brothers in Newfoundland focuses on the final report (Winter, Gordon, et al, 1990) of the Archdiocesan Commission of Enquiry. Definitions of child sexual abuse are examined, along with common predisposing factors & the relationship between clerical celibacy & child sex abuse. Overtones of homophobia are noted in the commission report, along with confusion between child sex abuse & consensual homosexual encounters. Outrage of the local Catholic community at the church's failure to respond to the allegations in a timely manner is described, maintaining that the church's traditional ecclesiastical response centered on preventing scandal. Probable misunderstandings of the effects of the abuse on the victims are examined, suggesting that they are partly responsible for the lack of empathy on the part of church officials. Suggestions are made for how the church can respond more responsibly to abuse allegations, & the need to look into the structural roots of child sex abuse in the institutional framework of the Catholic Church is discussed. 39 References. J. Lindroth

Research conducted in a town in OR is drawn on to analyze the context surrounding the highly contentious initiatives proposed by the Christian Right to deny civil rights protections to gays & lesbians. Interviews conducted with 8 members of the Oregon Citizens Alliance reveal the strong emotional components underlying the commitment of these Christian conservatives to their position. Beyond ostensibly selfless appeals to God, nation, & family values, their motivations are shown to encompass hopes of "self-realization," & their activism to serve a "reparative" function. The logic of these emotions is explored, along with ways that participation in the larger movement against gay & lesbian rights gives public voice to such private emotional needs. Of particular salience is the emotion of shame, which is manipulated by the Christian Right in pursuit of its own political goals; psychoanalytic explanations of this shame & its role in the activists' vehement opposition to homosexuality are proffered. K. Hyatt Stewart

Data obtained 1983-1985 via interviews with 30 retired male career athletes, ages 21-48, are drawn on to examine the development of masculine gender identity, focusing on the nature of friendships between males, the role of intimacy in such relationships, & how these contribute to males' conceptions of their sexual identity & roles. Ways that these men seek to avoid emotional intimacy are described, including their engagement in stereotypical masculine activities & encouragement of homophobia. It is shown how sexist attitudes toward women are also encouraged in this culture & reinforced by various discursive strategies & behaviors in the locker room, during training, & on the playing field. Implications for the development of true intimacy in opposite sex relationships are discussed. K. Hyatt Stewart

Research conducted in a town in OR is drawn on to analyze the context surrounding the highly contentious initiatives proposed by the Christian Right to deny civil rights protections to gays & lesbians. Interviews conducted with 8 members of the Oregon Citizens Alliance reveal the strong emotional components underlying the commitment of these Christian conservatives to their position. Beyond ostensibly selfless appeals to God, nation, & family values, their motivations are shown to encompass hopes of "self-realization," & their activism to serve a "reparative" function. The logic of these emotions is explored, along with ways that participation in the larger movement against gay & lesbian rights gives public voice to such private emotional needs. Of particular salience is the emotion of shame, which is manipulated by the Christian Right in pursuit of its own political goals; psychoanalytic explanations of this shame & its role in the activists' vehement opposition to homosexuality are proffered. K. Hyatt Stewart

Draws upon information gleaned from 50 interviews with activists in New York, Los Angeles, & Chicago to examine grassroots efforts to increase awareness about & empower individuals living with human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), in order to shed light on the interaction between multiple oppressions & collective action. Ways in which multiple inequalities like sexism, racism, homophobia, & classism impact the struggle against AIDS are explored at both the movement & community level. Grassroots efforts to resist multiple oppressions in communities of color are analyzed to demonstrate the creation of multidimensional oppositional consciousness & mobilization for collective action. It is contended that the key strategies used to oppose dominant ideological conceptions of the "other" are constructive dialogue, empowerment initiatives, community embeddedness, & use of indigenous culture. Special attention is given to the incorporation of cultural elements into activism; the crucial role played by race in the HIV/AIDS movement; & the structuring of political work around multiple collective identities, cultural symbols, & structural positions. J. Lindroth

Draws upon information gleaned from 50 interviews with activists in New York, Los Angeles, & Chicago to examine grassroots efforts to increase awareness about & empower individuals living with human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), in order to shed light on the interaction between multiple oppressions & collective action. Ways in which multiple inequalities like sexism, racism, homophobia, & classism impact the struggle against AIDS are explored at both the movement & community level. Grassroots efforts to resist multiple oppressions in communities of color are analyzed to demonstrate the creation of multidimensional oppositional consciousness & mobilization for collective action. It is contended that the key strategies used to oppose dominant ideological conceptions of the "other" are constructive dialogue, empowerment initiatives, community embeddedness, & use of indigenous culture. Special attention is given to the incorporation of cultural elements into activism; the crucial role played by race in the HIV/AIDS movement; & the structuring of political work around multiple collective identities, cultural symbols, & structural positions. J. Lindroth

Reflects on the experience of participating in the gay & lesbian protest in San Francisco, CA, against the Persian Gulf War. Gays & lesbians have considerable political clout in San Francisco, especially since 1990, when three of the eight members of the Board of Supervisors were openly gay. Further, because of its experience of organizing in the face of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic, the gay & lesbian community has developed important skills, resources, & traditions for political activism. However, the mainstream press rarely portrayed the extent of gay & lesbian involvement in the antiwar protest. To become more visible & politically effective, it is suggested that gays & lesbians form larger coalitions with other subordinate groups to express their grievances. The university is an excellent place to mobilize across groups. While it is acknowledged that racism & homophobia pervade the university as they do all institutions in US society, gays & lesbians must work to break down these walls if positive change is to occur. D. M. Smith