Abstract
This paper explores the suggested standpoint that individuals who self-identify as part of the “bear” subculture among gay men present self-concepts and subjective practices associated with hegemonic masculinity and negative attitudes toward effeminacy which might be impacting their sexual and mental health. In order to explore this suggestion, a socio-historical analysis about the homoaffective relationships and the gay bear phenomenon was articulated. Through this exploration, it was verified, on one hand, that these individuals engaged in different forms of peer crowds that were formed to attempt to mitigate the experience of being outcast within the gay mainstream, emphasizing the camaraderie, the interpersonal affection, the acceptance of maturation, and the working-class aesthetic as elements of their identities. On the other hand, references of implicit heterosexist attitudes in the discourse and practices of these individuals could be also identified. The review of a sample of the last decade peer-reviewed published literature pointed out that these individuals engaged in idiosyncratic behaviours that were socio-cultural and ethically influenced, but converged towards elements of the hegemonic masculinity. It seems that this convergence might be impacting on the sexual and mental health of the self-identified bear gay men. Mental health professionals could benefit in understanding the specificities of these population’s needs. Further empirical studies are suggested in order to verify these associations in more diverse socio-economic-cultural, ethnic, and sexual orientation contexts.
Highlights
| This paper explores the suggested standpoint that individuals who self-identify as part of the “bear” subculture among gay men present self-concepts and subjective practices associated with hegemonic masculinity and negative attitudes toward effeminacy which might be impacting their sexual and mental health
The Bear Book: Readings in the History and Evolution of a Gay Male Subculture
Summary
Resumo | Este artigo explora o ponto de vista sugerido de que indivíduos que se identificam com a subcultura “urso” entre homens gays apresentam autoconceitos e práticas subjetivas associadas à masculinidade hegemônica e atitudes negativas em relação à efeminidade, o que pode afetar sua saúde sexual e mental. As referências históricas sobre a regulação e repressão das práticas homoeróticas, a ênfase em uma masculinidade hegemônica e heterosexista, os efeitos pós-guerra, como a migração das áreas rurais para os centros urbanos, a redefinição dos espaços de homosocialização e homoerótica, a opressão do Estado extensiva sobre as práticas sexuais não conformes, os movimentos sociais que reivindicaram os direitos civis, a igualdade de gênero, o fim da discriminação baseada na orientação sexual e na raça, os movimentos contraculturais e a influência das ideologias sociopolíticas, influenciaram a forma como. Tais práticas foram operadas através de mecanismos persistentes e perpetuadas por diferentes instituições sociais ao longo da vida do indivíduo – gerando um efeito deletério na saúde mental de muitos daqueles que não estavam de acordo com a ideologia sexual dominante. É possível verificar como esta ideologia impôs suas premissas e influenciou o aumento da subcultura Bear
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