Sissyphobia
Encyclopedia
Sissyphobia: Gay Men and Effeminate Behavior is a book by gay author Tim Bergling,Dylan Vox, Would Life Be Better if You Were Straight?, Gaywired.com, Dec 20, 2007, also appeared in Edge, Boston investigating why some gay men are more masculine than others and why society finds effeminate men objectionable. (The neologism sissyphobia
designates the fear or hatred of effeminate men, pejoratively called "sissies
.")
While researching this topic, Bergling interviewed a number of men, both straight and gay, and analyzed the contents of personal ad sections of dozens of gay newspapers from the US. Bergling found that 40% of the ads were masculine-themed, for instance containing cliché
s like "straight acting
", while only 2 percent were feminine-themed. Bergling writes that many “straight-acting” gay men see effeminate gay men as slowing the process towards gays achieving equal rights. For example, he found that masculine gay men point to press coverage of gay pride events where only a small percentage of the attendees are drag queens, yet the press focuses on the latter. Bergling confesses that "I still wrestle with some sissyphobia myself, as do many of my interviewees."
Sissyphobia
Sissyphobia: Gay Men and Effeminate Behavior is a book by gay author Tim Bergling,Dylan Vox, , Gaywired.com, Dec 20, 2007, also appeared in Edge, Boston investigating why some gay men are more masculine than others and why society finds effeminate men objectionable...
designates the fear or hatred of effeminate men, pejoratively called "sissies
Sissy
Sissy is a pejorative term for a boy or man who violates or does not meet the traditional male gender role. Generally, sissy implies a lack of the courage and stoicism which are thought important to the male role...
.")
While researching this topic, Bergling interviewed a number of men, both straight and gay, and analyzed the contents of personal ad sections of dozens of gay newspapers from the US. Bergling found that 40% of the ads were masculine-themed, for instance containing cliché
Cliché
A cliché or cliche is an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, especially when at some earlier time it was considered meaningful or novel. In phraseology, the term has taken on a more technical meaning,...
s like "straight acting
Straight acting
Straight-acting is a term used to describe an LGBT person who does not exhibit the appearance or mannerisms of the gay stereotype. Although the label is used by and reserved almost exclusively for gay and bisexual men, it may also be used to describe a lesbian or bisexual woman with stereotypical...
", while only 2 percent were feminine-themed. Bergling writes that many “straight-acting” gay men see effeminate gay men as slowing the process towards gays achieving equal rights. For example, he found that masculine gay men point to press coverage of gay pride events where only a small percentage of the attendees are drag queens, yet the press focuses on the latter. Bergling confesses that "I still wrestle with some sissyphobia myself, as do many of my interviewees."
External links
See also
- TransphobiaTransphobiaTransphobia is a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards transsexualism and transsexual or transgender people, based on the expression of their internal gender...
- HeterosexismHeterosexismHeterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships. It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm and therefore superior...
- HomophobiaHomophobiaHomophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
- SexismSexismSexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...