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About this book
Over time, male homosexuality and effeminacy have become indelibly associated, sometimes even synonymous. In Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen, Peter Hennen contends that this stigma of effeminacy exerts a powerful influence on gay subcultures. Through a comparative ethnographic analysis of three communities, Hennen explores the surprising ways that conventional masculinity is being collectively challenged, subverted, or perpetuated in contemporary gay male culture.
Hennen's colorful study focuses on a trio of groups: the Radical Faeries, who parody effeminacy by playfully embracing it, donning prom dresses and glitter; the Bears, who strive to appear like "regular guys" and celebrate their larger, hairier bodies; and the Leathermen, who emulate hypermasculine biker culture, simultaneously paying homage to and undermining notions of manliness. Along with a historical analysis of the association between effeminacy and homosexuality, Hennen examines how this connection affects the groups' sexual practices. Ultimately, he argues, while all three groups adopt innovative approaches to gender issues and sexual pleasure, masculine norms continue to constrain members of each community.
Hennen's colorful study focuses on a trio of groups: the Radical Faeries, who parody effeminacy by playfully embracing it, donning prom dresses and glitter; the Bears, who strive to appear like "regular guys" and celebrate their larger, hairier bodies; and the Leathermen, who emulate hypermasculine biker culture, simultaneously paying homage to and undermining notions of manliness. Along with a historical analysis of the association between effeminacy and homosexuality, Hennen examines how this connection affects the groups' sexual practices. Ultimately, he argues, while all three groups adopt innovative approaches to gender issues and sexual pleasure, masculine norms continue to constrain members of each community.
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Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Yes, you can access Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen by Peter Hennen in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Social Sciences & LGBT Studies. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.
Information
Publisher
University of Chicago PressYear
2008Print ISBN
9780226327280, 9780226327273eBook ISBN
9780226327297Table of contents
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- 1. In Their Natures: Gay Men, Queer Men, and Gendered Strategies of Resistance
- 2. Girlymen: Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Effeminacy
- 3. Fae Spirits and Gender Trouble: Resistance and Compliance among the Radical Faeries
- 4. Bear Bodies, Bear Masculinity: Recuperation, Resistance, or Retreat?
- 5. Feeling a Bit under the Leather: Hypermasculinity, Performativity, and the Specter of Starched Chiffon
- 6. Fielding Questions, Fielding Possibilities
- Notes
- References
- Index