In C.J. Pascoe’s reading “Dude you’re a fag” she explores the concept of Masculinity and Sexuality as it is seen in High School, giving a gripping insight into modern youth as she explores the diversity of friendships between both sexes (male and female) and also racially, which is present within these institutions. The article predominately focuses on the male population as it shows how masculinity is a vital characteristic needed in order to fit into society and hence not be attacked with labels such as “fag” if you do not adhere to these masculine traits.
Pascoe argues through her studies that the fag epithet is more than simple homophobia as its use is not only restricted to homosexual people but also heterosexual people. Using homophobic
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epithets such as “fag” or “gay” are commonly used towards heterosexual males through joking relationships. Its fluidity is so dominant in todays society that boys have began to police their behaviors “out of fear of having the fag identify permanently adhere and definitive” (Pascoe 307) upon them. This fluidity is evident as boys immediately pass the term “fag” onto fellow peers to clear their name and do so to reaffirm their own masculinity. As the reading states this forms a “hot potat
o” (Pascoe 310) effect because at any given time a boy can temporarily become a fag for his feminine actions, un-masculine behavior through revealing weakness, being stupid or incompetent, dancing, caring too much about clothing or being …show more content…
too emotional. This however does not mean that the individual is in fact homosexual. One third of those interviewed alleged that they would never “direct the term fag at a homosexual peer” (Pascoe 309) as they compared homosexuality to a disability, where you would never discriminate, as it is hurtful towards the individual. However, one can simply escape the “fag epithet” by engaging in a discursive contest to turn another boy into a fag, and thus pass on the term therefore proving this hot potato effect as a fluid identity that boys constantly try to avoid. Through Pascoe’s research and interviews she found that the use of the word “fag” is both gendered and racialized.
Evidently in the article, boys used the term “fag” significantly more than girls when directing it at a fellow peer, as it is stated in the text that girls do not harass each other and are not harassed in the same manner as boys. Several students commented saying that “homophobic insults applied only to boys and not to girls” for example being a lesbian is accepted in society as boys think it is cool, but being a gay boy/ fag is looked down upon in society. However more prominent was the varying rate at which White boys used the term “fag” as opposed to African American boys. Pascoe describes this difference due to the varying cultural practices and common stereotypes, as African American boys engage in their hip-hop culture, which allows them to participate in dance/ drama without their status being lowered, this also allowed them to pay attention to their appearance/ dress without being classified as “gay” or a “fag”. Contrastingly if White boys participated in such activities they would be discriminated against and called a “fag”. According to White boys, “dancing was often associated with fags… however for African American boys, dancing demonstrates membership in a cultural community” (Pascoe 312). Therefore the fag epithet did not specifically apply to African American boys as they were praised for their stylistic dress and excellent dance moves. Instead
they teased each other for being or acting “white”. Pascoe states, “Because African American men are so hypersexualized in the United States, white men are, by default, feminized, so white was a stand-in for fag among many of the African American boys at River High” (Pascoe 71). As can be seen Pascoe explored various contexts in which the term “fag” can be used for example regarding someone’s actions, which may be slightly feminine, or their stylist approach to dress/ clothing. Pascoe also stated that the Drama club was a space where this “fag” discourse did not seem to occur, perhaps, because the boys participating in this class were accepted by their fellow peers and therefore there was nothing to gain by accusing one another as being fags. There are a few sports that are perceived by the media and society as being “gay” sports, suggesting that those who participate in such sports as gymnastics or diving must be “fags”. This circumstance is similar to the drama club, as those participating are all very supportive of one another and therefore they do not have to worry about the fag epithet whilst in their sporting arena.
In the article “Dude You’re a Fag: Adolescent Homophobia” the author uses pathos and logos to convey the audience the main point of her article. Rhetorical modes such as exemplification and description are used. C.J. Pascoe is trying to argue that the word “fag” or “faggot is not mainly used as a homophobic slur within high school boys, but more commonly used to describe unmasculinity.
In Kimmel’s essay “’Bros Before Hos’: The Guy Code” he argues that the influence of society on masculinity is equal to or greater than biological influences on masculinity. In the essay, Kimmel uses various surveys and interviews to validate his argument. He points to peers, coaches, and family members as the people most likely to influence the development of a man’s masculinity. When a man has his manliness questioned, he immediately makes the decision never to say or do whatever caused him to be called a wimp, or unmanly. Kimmel’s argument is somewhat effective because the readers get firsthand accounts from the interviewees but the author does not provide any statistics to support his argument.
The teenage years are especially important in the establishment of social and cultural core principles that provide the base for further growth in the future. Sociologist C.J. Pascoe links her personal experience with scholarly research in her ethnography titled, Dude, You’re A Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School. Pascoe’s year and a half study at a Northern California School known as River High School sheds light on how bullying, power, and sexual innuendos are all components in the makeup of social life in Americas public schools. Her analysis of these components through observational data research is centered around the subject of the challenges associated with masculinity as well as sexual inequality, and the refinement of gender
‘Dude, You’re a Fag’: Adolescent Masculinity and the Fag Discourse - C. J. Pascoe 2005
Aaron Devor’s essay “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” describes how despite popular belief, gender and sex are not directly related and how social norms affect individual’s choice of gender. Devor‘s main argument is that gender is not determined by genitalia, but instead by the individual's own choices. Michael Kimmel’s essay “Masculinity as Homophobia” claims that gender equality is a positive thing for males and that social norms force men to act a certain way. Kimmel’s main argument is that men are always having to protect their masculinity in order to prevent themselves from appearing weak. Both authors present compelling arguments for both gender equality and for how social norms influence individuals’ gender choice. However, the two authors approach the same topic in different ways. Kimmel takes a more laid-back approach to the topic by using simple words and a conversational tone that relates to the casual gender sociologist. Devor writes a more sophisticated essay using complex terms and a more formal tone that relates to the serious sociologist that research gender studies.
Lorrie Moore’s “You’re Ugly, Too” introduces the reader to Zoë Hendricks, a character who at first glance seems carefree and convivial, as she is known to offer her college students hot chocolate and often sings to them in class. After reading further it becomes clear that Zoë’s raw sarcasm and joking manner are in fact a defense mechanism and her only way of dealing with the situations she is presented with, ones ranging from her love life (or lack thereof) to her home life and sense of self. Zoë is restless and finds happiness and contentment to be beyond reach. Her sarcasm paired with these piled on insecurities ultimately leave her alienated from her relationships, from
Individuals in society are inherently subject to collaborative norms and values that have been instilled in humanity, with the consideration that this varies across cultures. The paradigm between collective action and individual desire results in the formation of what is deemed socially acceptable, such as gender roles, sexual orientation, gender performance etc. “It is social norms that provide the constraints by which the interaction between the basic dyad of self and other is governed…social norms also provide the source of identity between the individual action, the complete system and the overall social order itself resides in the identity between the action and the system” (Jinks, 2005; 78-79) Deviations form societal norms result in the formation of subcultures, cultural groups that have different beliefs, interests and values than that of the great society. This essay will focus on Goth culture and the extent to which it challenges the hegemonic norms of masculinity. “Hegemonic Masculinity refers to a culturally dominant set of ideas and practices about what it means to be a man and how men should behave” (Mansfield, 2007: 1). It is, in simpler terms the general perception of what it is to be masculine that dominants society and the way in which most people portray their masculinity. It is hoped that through the course of this essay we will be able to present a clearer picture into whether or not Goth culture truly challenges hegemonic norms of masculinity or whether it just flatters to deceive.
Meaning that the words ‘faggot’ or ‘fag’ or ‘tranny’ are homophobic slurs to me. Now, why are these words slurs to me personally you’re thinking, well, it’s because I can speak from personal experience with words like these and also the negative connotations and the history that surrounds words like ‘faggot’.
...ve begins generating rumors for male peers who do not qualify as a stereotypical male. For instance, Olive pretends to have sex with a male peer during a popular house party (Gluck, 2010). This imaginary hook-up benefits the male peer’s bullying dilemma. Again, gender policing occurs between men when masculinity is questioned (Kimmel, 2008). “One survey found that most Americans boys would be rather be punched in the face than called gay” (Kimmel, 2000, p.77). The gender police govern Olive’s and the male peer’s status in social standings. America’s obsession with sex disregards if a girl truly sleeps around.
“Boys will be boys, and girls will be girls”: few of our cultural mythologies seem as natural as this one. But in this exploration of the gender signals that traditionally tell what a “boy” or “girl” is supposed to look and act like, Aaron Devor shows how these signals are not “natural” at all but instead are cultural constructs. While the classic cues of masculinity—aggressive posture, self-confidence, a tough appearance—and the traditional signs of femininity—gentleness, passivity, strong nurturing instincts—are often considered “normal,” Devor explains that they are by no means biological or psychological necessities. Indeed, he suggests, they can be richly mixed and varied, or to paraphrase the old Kinks song “Lola,” “Boys can be girls and girls can be boys.” Devor is dean of social sciences at the University of Victoria and author of Gender Blending: Confronting the Limits of Duality (1989), from which this selection is excerpted, and FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society (1997).
The Web. 12 May 2014. Fone, Byrne. A. Homophobia: A History of the.
Jessie the popular homecoming queen and class president and Rebecca the younger basketball girl who both identified as lesbians were respected by their classmates and rarely made fun of unlike their classmate Ricky who was openly gay. Yet these two girls were constantly still being policed by gender roles when they worse dresses to the school dance, or when Rebecca was called a stud since she would get all the girls. A stud would usually be a term granted to a male who gets all the girls, but because Rebecca was a lesbian and also dresses and acted in a masculine manner her peers saw her this way as well. If a straight girl was getting with a lot of guys she would be called a hoe. We have seen this dynamic constantly within our society with straight women. It was interesting to see how a lesbian girl takes on this level of masculinity because of her sexual
Wilton, Tamsin. "Which One's the Man? The Heterosexualisation of Lesbain Sex." Gender, Sex, and Sexuality. New York: Oxford University, 2009. 157-70. Print.
Schools are crucial developmental spaces, tasked with educating individuals in a realm that operates as more than just an academic sphere. Educational settings function as incubators for socialization and the molding of other interpersonal skills between young, impressionable students. As such, there are often conversations and interactions over sensitive topics that students are grappling with for the first times. One such topic is homosexuality, leading to instances of homophobia, defined as an irrational hatred and fear of nonheterosexuals (Banks 2012). From a young age, students become prime targets of homophobic bullying and victimization as sexual minority youth (Varjas 2008). One key aspect of homophobia that is worth addressing is whether
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.