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Gay and Bisexual Male Subculture Sample Answer
Introduction
A gay male is a subculture of gay, lesbian transgender, and bisexual culture (LGBT). This subculture consists of gay and bisexual males only. Since its emergence in 1969, it has gained popularity and developed other subcultures. The main subculture of a gay male is the bear, which is characterized by males who exhibit secondary sexual characteristics such as hairy face and body as well as huge muscular bodies (Flores 2011). They share similar ideologies with the mainstream gay male subculture only that it is characterized by males who posses certain features. Gay males continue to suffer from stigmatization from straight individuals. Religious groups and other straight people in the community strongly reject them on the basis of sexual orientation. Some face discrimination in schools and at home. There is also a major crisis of HIV that is affecting gay males. This has further led to gay male stigmatization. Statistics reveal that gay men engage in risky sexual behavior and are at great risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Stigmatization and discrimination made many gays change greatly as they identify themselves with the culture that accepts them. The process of socialization within the subculture has made many gay males to behave in a certain way and feel like part of the community. As time progresses, some countries accepted gays to extent of legalizing their marriages despite the eminent controversies.
An ethnographic description of the subculture
A gay male is a subculture of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT). Although the gay community has been in existence for a long term, gay culture was first instituted in 1969 when a group of seven gay males formed a club to advocate for their rights to be recognized as normal people. Since then, several gay males have come into the open to announce their sexual orientations. The pace at which gay community came into the open in the past was quite slow. Homosexuality has been highly associated with stigmatization; the reason why many gay people would not come into the open. However, today, people are increasingly accepting gay people and associating with them in any way. In fact, there are some countries that recognize gay marriage.
Gay men are exposed to sexual risk behaviors. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (n.d), gay men are at high risk of contracting HIV. Usually, gay men have anal sex, which has been identified as the riskiest way of transmitting the HIV virus. Similarly, their sexual practice also contributes to high chances of acquiring other sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and syphilis. It is also notable that gay men have multiple sexual partners; hence, higher chances of acquiring HIV. The kind of lifestyle they lead especially in festivals is likely to spread sexually transmitted diseases to many people.
There are several subcultures in gay male culture such as bears, leather, and chubbies. Bear has emerged as one of the most popular subcultures. It was popularized in 1987 when several terms describing gay people came into the light. The term bear originated from huge and heavy animals referred to as bears. As such, the bear subculture is comprised of masculine and heavy males. Although this subculture claims to welcome everyone, many of them discriminate against men who do not have masculine features. At the height of the bear movement, many masculine gays separated themselves from the larger community. They formed their own clubs where they created sexual and social opportunities for themselves. They have several membership requirements and strict bylaws that every member must adhere to. Bears also hold annual events and events to celebrate their culture. The bear community is recognized in all parts of the world. They have formed several clubs that give them an opportunity to network with other bears (Manley, Levitt and Mosher 2007: 90).
Typically, bears posses secondary sexual features such as hairy body and face. They portray all the characteristics of masculinity. They also like to describe themselves as polite, friendly, and easy going. They are easy to relate with under normal circumstances; however, they are dangerous when provoked. They value teamwork and always protect each other. Most bears are older and are attracted to members of the same community (GAVoice 2011).
The bear subculture has also its own niche in the market. It gives accessories such as t-shirts, porn movies, calendars, and magazines bearing their icons. The subculture has also come up with videos and studios such as Bear Magazine, Bearfilms, Butch Bear, and many others. There are also several smartphones applications and social media websites that are marketable among the bear community. It is notable that as this culture grows, so does it develop its own music and literature. For instance, Bearapalooza is a bear’s music festival that is increasingly becoming popular among the bear members. Likewise, they have Bear Bones Books and a publisher that markets fiction poetry in the bear community. There are also large and organized bear markets where musicians and artists sell their bear based products.
The connection between the subculture and the society
Gay male community obliviously stand opposed to the society and the mainstream culture. Even though the modern culture is continually accepting the gay community, there are still a number of people and groups that continue to discriminate them. Many people usually see gay men as immoral and sinful people. They see their sexual act as unnatural and offensive. Most straight people’s attitudes towards gay men are hostile. They view homosexuality as a moral and natural sin that should be condemned at all costs. Some reject them at a personal level whereas others reject them based on religious beliefs and morality. Gay males often face several types of stigma including verbal, non verbal, physical, and discrimination (Kendall 2004: 209-212).
The society imposes stigmatization on a gay male in several levels. It may start at interpersonal levels when family and friends discover that one of their own is gay. At this level, family members may become violent to an extent of ejecting the gay person out. Friends may also alienate themselves from a gay person for the fear of being associated with them. Such people may end up being alone because no one would want to be associated with them. People utter offensive words directed towards gay in public. This may lead to harassment especially for communities that have no places for gay people. Even people in public offices may fail to serve those who are known to be homosexuals. Schools are also a common place for harassment against gay men. Usually, the discovery that one is gay in school can devastate a student to an extent of quitting. This is because students may become very violent towards a gay student and even discriminate him. Such a person is likely to lose all friends and suffer from loneliness. This makes the whole life of gay people in schools quite difficult. Religious groups also condemn homosexuality terming it as an immoral act. According to these groups, homosexuality is a very serious sin that cannot be accepted by God. They strongly refute any act of homosexuality as it goes against the ways of God. It is very difficult to convince religious followers that gay people are the same as straight people with sexuality as the only difference. It is no wonder that gay people have formed their own community where they interact among themselves.
Suresha (2009) confirms that at a political level, gay male continue to face discrimination in several countries. Although the governments of several countries claim that gay people should not be discriminated, they have not been able to stop it. This is evidenced in the fact that many countries have failed to recognize gay marriage. This is also another height of stigmatization. Despite the several demonstrations that gays have conducted in an attempt to fight for their legalization, it is apparent that gay discrimination is still high. Failure to recognize their marriage denies them many benefits that married couples enjoy.
It is clear that the society has not accepted gay males. Although the rate of acceptance has increased over the years, stigmatization is still eminent. There are a group of people that strongly hold that homosexuality is immoral and should never be praised at all costs. As such, much needs to be done for the gay community to be fully accepted in the society.
Gay and Bisexual Male Subculture participation and identity
Gay males have their own lifestyles and characterization. Through the process of socialization, gay males have to act according to the expectations of their subculture. With regard to bear subculture, members of this particular group must possess certain characteristics. Despite having masculine features, they must be friendly, easy going, and show kindness. Since all the members of this community possess these characteristics, any member that wishes to join the community must show these characteristics. One might acquire these characteristics by interacting and socializing with the members of this community. As such, those who join this group will have to acquire the mentioned characteristics such as being friendly and kind.
The festivals that these communities hold also play a great role in gays’ identification. The way they celebrate their festivals and the kind of clubs and bars they attend makes them distinct from the mainstream culture. The lifestyle that they lead can be as a result of interaction with other members of the subculture. The language that they use could also be used to identify this community. This identification process follows mead’s theory of self development, which states that people develops their self through socialization. Therefore, how other people in the subculture behave influences the actions of others. The type of music they listen to and the type of clothes they wear has a huge influence on the lifestyles of new members. When gays join bear subculture, they are expected to conform to the norms of the culture. They must behave in the same way as other older members. They should learn to be friendly and team players. The strict rules of the subculture must be adhered to. Whatever behavior is exhibited in the subculture is what makes bears what they are (Hennen 2008: 49).
The other thing that makes gay males to identify with certain characteristics is their families. Many gay people who have been kicked out of their homes on the basis of their sexual orientation are likely to join the gay male community and particularly bear if they are masculine. They realize that this is their life and who they are; hence, they behave in a similar manner as other gay members. They neglect their behaviors back at home and strive to become someone else.
Neglect by the society may also contribute to self identification of gay males. They are likely to interact among themselves while neglecting the mainstream culture. The more people discriminate against them, the more they form a new kind of family that is peculiar to the mainstream culture. They have to show others that they are proud of who they are even if they are not. They will also hold demonstrations just because other members are doing so. In addition, they learn to listen and love the music played in their subculture. It is evident that socializing with other members of the community helps new members to identify themselves as part of the subculture.
Gay and Bisexual Male Subculture Conclusion
Gay males especially bear subculture is a movement that has increasingly gained popularity. Despite its criticism and stigmatization from the mainstream society, gay males continue to come into the open proudly. The members of this subculture proudly advocate for their gay rights and acceptance (Hennen 2008: 37). On the other hand, people continue to condemn and discriminate them in various institutions and public places. Nevertheless, the gay community has made it clear that it is and will still survive amidst stigmatization. They have identified themselves as a subculture that is harmless and only pursuing its own happiness. This subculture feels that the society should recognize gay males and give them the rights to marry and be like other heterosexual couples. There is a great need to learn about this subculture in order to understand gay males and their ways of life.
Gay and Bisexual Male Subculture References
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. n.d. HIV among Gay and Bisexual Men. Retrieved on November 23, 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/gender/msm/facts/
Flores, Jacob. 2011. A Reference Guide to the Gay Bear Culture. Retrieved on November 23, 2014. http://www.jacobzflores.com/2011/09/18/a-reference-guide-to-the-gay-bear-culture/
GAVoice. 2011. Bear Necessities: An insiders’ look at an atypical gay culture and community. retrieved on November 23, 2014. http://thegavoice.com/bear-necessities-an-insiders-look-at-an-atypical-gay-culture-and-community/
Hennen, Peter. 2008. Faeries, bears, and leathermen: Men in community queering the masculine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kendall, Christopher. 2004. Gay male pornography: An issue of sex discrimination. Vancouver: UBC Press.
Manley, Eric., Levitt, Heidi., and Mosher, Chad. 2007. Understanding the bear movement in gay male culture: Redefining masculinity. Journal of homosexuality, 53(4), 89-112.
Suresha, Ron. 2009. Bears on bears: Interviews & discussions. New London, CT: Bear Bones Books.
