A Mixed-Method Study of Same-Sex Kissing Among College-Attending Heterosexual Men in the U.S.

Eric Anderson,Mark Mccormack,Matthew Ripley

doi:10.1007/s12119-018-9560-0

Abstract

This is the first research to assess the prevalence of same-sex kissing among college-attending, heterosexual men in the United States. We utilized a mixed-method study of 442 quantitative surveys and 75 in-depth interviews with participants from 11 universities in order to understand the frequency, context and meanings of same-sex kissing. We found that the prevalence of kissing on the cheek among these participants was 40%, and kissing on the lips 10%. Both types of kisses were predicted by positive attitudes toward gay men and both types of kissing were generally described as non-sexual expressions of affection. We situate these empirical results within contemporary theoretical debates about masculinities and contend that the meanings associated with heterosexual masculinity are undergoing a profound shift in U.S. culture. This trend of same-sex kissing needs further attention to fully understand these shifts and the emerging homosocial and tactile experiences of young American men.

Highlights

Recent research has documented the emergence of heterosexual men kissing each other in public settings, while still maintaining heterosexual social identities (Anderson et al 2012a, b; Drummond et al 2014)
There is no empirical examination of the extent to which heterosexual men in the U.S are kissing each other, even though the liberalization of attitudes toward gay people found in the U.K. and Australia is present in the U.S (Keleher and Smith 2012; Loftus 2001; Twenge et al 2016), albeit to a lesser extent than the U.K. (Clements and Field 2014)
This research provides a significant addition to empirical understanding of contemporary masculinities, showing that same-sex kissing between men is a behavior that can be engaged in while maintaining a heterosexual identity at these universities

Summary

Introduction

Recent research has documented the emergence of heterosexual men kissing each other in public settings, while still maintaining heterosexual social identities (Anderson et al 2012a, b; Drummond et al 2014). Heterosexual same-sex kissing between men is most prevalent in the United Kingdom, with lower prevalence rates in Australia. In both studies, it was argued that a decrease in cultural homophobia had enabled men to kiss each other without social censure. We found that 40% of participants had kissed another man on the cheek and 10% on the lips Both types of kisses were generally described as non-sexual expressions of affection, occurred between friends in a range of contexts, and were predicted by positive attitudes toward gay men. We contend that samesex kissing occurred in a greater range of contexts than previously found We situate these findings within masculinities theory and the meanings associated with heterosexual masculinity in U.S culture

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion