Abstract
The article is aimed at examining the significance of internalized heterosexism for HIV-related health behaviour of gay men in Germany. Based on the analysis of selected interviews from a qualitative study on psychosocial dynamics of HIV infections three aspects will be outlined that interlink the internalization of heteronormative representations of masculinity with risk behaviour in this group: 1. Masculinity becomes an essential issue for constructing a coherent gay identity in heteronormative societies that annotate male homosexuality with non-masculinity. 2. Internalized representations of heteronormative masculinity may lead to self-devaluation if the self-image is inconsistent with the masculine ideal. 3. A paradox desire for the idealized and violently experienced image is acted out sexually. Finally, strategies of acquiring images of masculinity beyond heterosexist inscriptions into the gay subject are discussed.
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