Gay Stereotypes

[spunk-junky]

I know it is dangerous to generalize, but why do gay men tend to be clueless when it comes to sports? How come they often excel in the arts? Why are we attracted to straight, masculine men? Now, I don't want every gay person who proudly does not fit these stereotypes to post an angry response. I am merely asking the question: Where do these kinds of stereotypes come from? You have to admit that many stereotypes (whether sexual orientation, religious, racial, sexist...) are often, to some degree, based in reality. Do you think gay stereotypes are generally accurate

 

[puka-pride]

clueless about sports is probably linked to all the awkward moments in gym class where unknowingly your sexuality alienates you from the others because of awkward staring, boners and possibly the shame you'd feel of being different then the other boys... thats probably where we develop our initial attractions to more masculine guys as well... back when our sexual urges start we are mostly only exposed to guys our own ages and the primary time we'd see them in a exposed situation would be the locker room before and after gym class... where guys tend to be really macho and masculine/stupid because they all feel awkward about changing around each other

the arts thing is a little trickier to speculate about... maybe its because when we are children the arts is that one thing that EVERYONE does and everyone gets praise for.... i don't remember ever being picked on for a drawing i made.. or for singing in a choir... or any other "arts" related thing we would do as children... because everyone was pretty much on the same skill level... and everyone had to do it... it was a safe haven from when we were getting picked on during gym and at recess and what not. thats why we end up focusing on our art where we can express whatever we feel an not be picked on as opposed to others who focus on sports and what not because thats where they don't get picked on.

i'm pretty sure that this way of thinking about it can be believable.. i mean it doesn't mean all of us were picked on in gym... which is why some of us are more masculine acting and do love sports... and why a lot of us have a flare for arts...

 

[kramer362]

Yeah honestly what puka-pride said makes a lot of sense. Anyone who feels outcast is gonna be much more drawn to a club where you won't feel like you're gonna be picked on or be an outcast. There's cliques in everything but sports probably a lot moreso than like theater or art or something stereotypically gay. If someone feels more comfortable and safer in a certain environment maybe he/she is more likely or more willing to adapt and become fond of the activity?

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

A lot of gay men identify with women and we've still got strict gender constructions being pushed on us. Associating with femininity means you "have" to denounce sports in favor of Barbie Dolls and hair brushes.

Stereotypes come from behavioral patterns, everyone has stereotypes, women in general, white women, black women, men in general, old men, young men, Asians, Americans, etc..

 

[AngelFromAbove]

Stereotypes exist because people tend to learn by grouping and categorizing; this is how humans develop a sense of understanding the world around them. With that being said, yes, stereotypes are accurate, to an extent.

The reason they are accurate is that someone is always going to fit the stereotype. In addition, the people who are stereotyped are the obvious, extreme, and easily recognizable examples. However, obvious does not equate to numbers; in other words, just because you find people who clearly behave in a certain manner, it does not mean that all, many, or most of the particular group or subgroup share those characteristics.

Ironically, I have found so many other websites on the web devoted to men who are "Straightacting," "Jocks," or "Athletes." These men take pride in the fact that they are just regular or masculine guys, with an interest in sports and athletic endeavors. Personally, most of the men who have hit on me would have never been questioned in terms of their masculinity by the average person, so...

 

[Beef and Fur]

No, stereotypes are not accurate when categorizing people unless you accept that you are objectifying them. You can categorize objects, for example all blue shirts or all red shoes. But wouldn't there be a variation of types of shirts and shoes in that category?

I've already pasted this part in another thread and it fits here:

Your views are simply the reflection of a societal stereotype that dictates how men and women are supposed to act or behave. This common stereotype is the foundation of many problems in our society; sexism, misogyny, racism and homophobia just to name a few.

So, does the stereotype exist because of the behavior? Or does the behavior exist because of the stereotype?

People aren't objects and once you see past that ideal you will find that it's actually impossible to put them into one category and why would you want to do that anyway?

Yes generalizations are dangerous and you should have stopped there.

 

[hubbellgardner]

clueless about sports is probably linked to all the awkward moments in gym class where unknowingly your sexuality alienates you from the others because of awkward staring, boners and possibly the shame you'd feel of being different then the other boys... thats probably where we develop our initial attractions to more masculine guys as well... back when our sexual urges start we are mostly only exposed to guys our own ages and the primary time we'd see them in a exposed situation would be the locker room before and after gym class... where guys tend to be really macho and masculine/stupid because they all feel awkward about changing around each other

the arts thing is a little trickier to speculate about... maybe its because when we are children the arts is that one thing that EVERYONE does and everyone gets praise for.... i don't remember ever being picked on for a drawing i made.. or for singing in a choir... or any other "arts" related thing we would do as children... because everyone was pretty much on the same skill level... and everyone had to do it... it was a safe haven from when we were getting picked on during gym and at recess and what not. thats why we end up focusing on our art where we can express whatever we feel an not be picked on as opposed to others who focus on sports and what not because thats where they don't get picked on.

i'm pretty sure that this way of thinking about it can be believable.. i mean it doesn't mean all of us were picked on in gym... which is why some of us are more masculine acting and do love sports... and why a lot of us have a flare for arts...

Very good post, Puka.

 

[saymyname]

I have to say that I don't really find the stereotypes to be true. I know HUNDREDS of queer people - mostly gay men - but also lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, etc. and, in regards to gay men - let's see, I've met the queens, the hairdressers, the art fags (my personal fav and stereotype that I fall into, I suppose), the gay jocks, the club kids, the fashionistas and the socialites, the theater gays, ravers, bears, blah blah blah. There's a ton of different kind of gay people. Is it possible that there are, in terms of an overall demographic, more artsy types in the gay community that overall? Maybe. But when I think of all the gay artists I know, then I just think of all the queens I know, who aren't artists at all. I would say the biggest stereotype that I've seen, in reality, is the bimbo-homo obsessed with pop culture, fashion, celebrities, and generally boring shit. Like the stereotype of a "dumb chick". But then I've met lots of alternative hipster gay boys too.

I would have to say the tendency to stay away from sports has to do with, like the other poster said, withdrawing from the group of men during puberty because of your confusion, etc.

That line of thinking would also explain a tendency for the arts. Who are artists? People who express themselves through a certain medium, often things they can't easily express. It makes sense that gay people would be turned on to things like writing and the arts.

Plus, we're just more creative and brilliant in general.

 

[slnattak]

I suck at both sports *and* art.

I suck at most everything in life. I even suck at sucking at times.

But I do know a thing or too about creative writing, video games and uh - good-ass porn.

*shrug*

 

[coloradobottom]

I know several gay men that are totally into sports. I know straight men that cringe at the idea of setting through a football game. Everyone has different tastes. It would be a very boring world in which we live in if everyone liked the same things.

 

[saymyname]

I suck at both sports *and* art.

I suck at most everything in life. I even suck at sucking at times.

But I do know a thing or too about creative writing, video games and uh - good-ass porn.

*shrug*

creative writing is generally considered to be an art

 

[Sportsman]

"Do you think gay stereotypes are generally accurate? Culture is the biggest influence on this issue.
The only stereotypical gay men, are the ones you notice with those stereotypes. The gay men w/o those stereotypes--you don't notice...so how would anyone know if those stereotypes are accurate accros the full spectrum of gay men? The reason you notice stereotypical gay men in the "arts" is because that industry is generally accepting towards gay men. since athlectics is generally not accepting, gay men are typically closeted. It's a cultural issue.

 

[jude swings]

my question is WHEN is there gonna be more variety in the gay community? i don't really hang out in the gay bars and stuff but when i do go it's always the same. str8 bars offer a lot more options.

 

[burst]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEaOvYiXYzI"]Example of a stereotype we all hate.[/ame]

lol he's the type of person who give a bad name to gays. Besides being an asshole prick, rude and diva!! check what he says at 00:08 just brings me to tears laughing!!!! and the way he says "Because" lol

 

[mbamike]

Do you think gay stereotypes are generally accurate

No, I don't think gay sterotypes are accurate. I have had sex with guys who are very "straight acting." I am very straight acting.

Also, I enjoy sports, especially football.

 

[terps420]

I've always had this random far-fetched theory about why gay men excel in artistic things and not-so-much in physical ones; I once read an article (I can recall it was from a pretty reputable source- Time Magazine or The New Yorker or something, can't remember exactly) about how the brains of openly gay men who had recently died were studied and compared to the brains of openly lesbian females and heterosexual men and women. If I remember correctly, they said that the lesbian brains had larger and heavier right hemispheres (side of the brain) and resembled the straight male's ones and that the gay males had larger left hemispheres and looked more like the straight female brains than any of the others.

I think, especially when it comes to our hobbies, interests, tastes and pursuits, that our nurturing has a lot more to do with it than our anatomy though. It definitely has to do with it a little of course however.

I'm bisexual so there are a lot of things I particularly hate that are both stereotypically "straight" and "gay".

I hate beer, and football, and soccer, and ufc, and fighting, and guns, and always having to pay.

I also hate techno, and musicals, and rainbows, and Cher, and v-necks, and never meeting a guy who can hold it out past the 1st hour of the 1st date.

 

[a little edgy]

Your views are simply the reflection of a societal stereotype that dictates how men and women are supposed to act or behave. This common stereotype is the foundation of many problems in our society; sexism, misogyny, racism and homophobia just to name a few.

So, does the stereotype exist because of the behavior? Or does the behavior exist because of the stereotype?

While I would never dispute that rigid stereotyping can lead to bigotry and worse, I do think it's worth considering that gender stereotypes are historical and cross-cultural. Something more than just prejudice has pushed societies to "stereotype" women as warm and nurturing and men as strong and aggressive. I suspect these behaviors were selected for by evolution; even today, even in the most open-minded, least bigoted people, we still see sets of behaviors that are correctly perceived as being more "male" and others that are more "female."

I think many gay men, very early on in childhood, know that they are different from other boys. That sense of difference, of being an outsider in the rough-and-tumble world of boyhood, may push them toward "girly" things. Sports are aggressive; art is emotional. Sports are male; art is female.* Of course there are many exceptions, but I do believe that this is what has established the pattern of behavior that many gay men, especially stereotypical gay men, fall into.

*I know that there are many male artists, including some hyper-masculine ones. Nevertheless, the arts in general tend to be perceived as more "feminine" than other fields of endeavor. This will, in and of itself, tend to push many straight men away from the arts.

 

[red1979]

It's all psychological.
Cleary, our brains work differently than the brains of straight men. Many gay men are more in touch with their emotions that other boys. Children at young ages, especially boys, will make fun of those different from them. That means we won't work together to develop the sports skills that the other boys do by hanging out together and bonding. Whether we admit it or not we regret the lack of bonding with those sports playing boys. We resent their skills and wish we had skills like that so we could be "one of the guys." When we begin to go through puberty and start feeling sexual attractions those feelings of resentment mutate (don't we love teenage hormones?) into an attraction to the types of boys who are good at sports and have other traits we deem "masculine." Being more in touch with our emotions make activities like singing and dancing fun for us, hence the artistic tendancies.

But, like most psychology, this is all just theory. No one truly understands the human mind, which is why there are so many different camps of psychology.

 

[PabloZed]

Stereotyping is for the ignorant and lazy because instead of judging people individually its simpler to just say "all gays are swishy" or "all blondes are dumb." Well, I love sports - love. I even joined a fantasy sports league and won. I hate bars, clothes, shopping and don't even own an ipod. I dress like a bum when I'm home and women literally swoon over my voice because its so deep (true story - a secretary in my office was calling my home just to listen to me answer the phone). And I have gay friends who are just like me. We go to basketball games, we sometimes brawl with fans from the otherside, and yet we also love men.

The problem is that there are of course people who fit the stereotype. But consider that when I was in China the stereotype I heard was of the militaristic european who wants to keep the world poor. In the middle east the stereotype of America is that we are all under zionist control. Some might argue that because of their history that the stereotype of europeans has some truth, but I would wholly reject that claim. If anything, because of its history europe wants to avoid war.