Following western conceptions of masculinity: homohysteria and transgressive bodies in a masculine Turkish environment

ABSTRACT

This article uses qualitative interview data derived from 18 Turkish gay males who exist within in a traditionally masculine space in order to examine for a social movement pattern based in relation to the Western context. In examining the entanglement of homophobia with cisgender masculine social hierarchies it suggests similarity between current Turkish culture and historical American culture: that the antecedent of homophobia facilitates an approximate social process of hierarchy-making that privileges heterosexuality and cisgender bodies while stigmatising femininity and queer bodies. Results also show limited signs of resistance, with a differing embodiment of hypertrophic bodies, and cautious optimism with aspirations of liberation through adopted western identity politics.

KEYWORDS:

• Masculinity
• social movement
• Turkish culture
• homophobia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. https://m.bianet.org/english/politics/263561-istanbul-pride-week-banned

2. However, they also emphasised that the struggle for LGBTI+ rights in Turkey has also increased its impact and its visibility has increased.