Top or bottom: a position paper

Abstract

This paper builds on prior research that establishes the connection between femininity and gay men by adding sexual position identity, or one’s sexual role as a top, bottom or versatile, to the argument. Using concepts of hegemonic masculinity and censure, the paper examines the historic link between feminine pursuits of fashion and aesthetics and gay identity as well as contemporary views of ‘gayness’ to argue that gay men are censured by other gay men in order to conform to heteronormative expectations of gender. The mechanism for the censure is invoking the word ‘bottom’ to criticise gay men who have feminine traits. Data were gathered from casual interviews, conversations, blogs and vlogs and demonstrate the underlying tension between masculinity and femininity within the gay, male community and how the community has co-opted heteronormative concepts of gender.

Keywords:

• censoring
• sexual position
• masculinity
• femininity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Adam (2000) noted that men who label themselves as gay versus homosexual entertain the possibility of a relationship with another man.

2. I use the term ‘minority’ not in the sense of a numerical figure but as a group of people who are treated ‘less than’ by a dominate group.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrew Reilly

Andrew (Andy) Reilly, PhD, is an associate professor at the University of Hawai`i, Mānoa where he teaches introduction to fashion, fashion writing, and the behavioral aspects of fashion and dress courses. His research examines the intersections of gender and sexuality. His books include The Men’s Fashion Reader (Fairchild Books 2008), Meanings of Dress 3rd edition (Fairchild Books, 2012), Concepts for the Fashion Industry (Bloomsbury, 2014), and Honolulu Street Style (Intellect, 2014). He is also founder and editor of the journal Critical Studies in Men’s Fashion (Intellect), is Vice President of Scholarship for the International Textile and Apparel Association (2014-2017), and co-producer and host of Hawai`i Fashion Now.