Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen: Men in Community Queering the Masculine

by Peter Hennen

Over time, male homosexuality and effeminacy have become indelibly associated, sometimes even synonymous. In Faeries, Bears, and Leathermen , Peter Hennen contends that this stigma of effeminacy exerts a powerful influence on gay subcultures. Through a comparative ethnographic analysis of three communities, Hennen explores the surprising ways that conventional masculinity is being collectively challenged, subverted, or perpetuated in contemporary gay male culture.

Hennen’s colorful study focuses on a trio of the Radical Faeries, who parody effeminacy by playfully embracing it, donning prom dresses and glitter; the Bears, who strive to appear like “regular guys” and celebrate their larger, hairier bodies; and the Leathermen, who emulate hypermasculine biker culture, simultaneously paying homage to and undermining notions of manliness. Along with a historical analysis of the association between effeminacy and homosexuality, Hennen examines how this connection affects the groups’ sexual practices. Ultimately, he argues, while all three groups adopt innovative approaches to gender issues and sexual pleasure, masculine norms continue to constrain members of each community.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Queer, Sociology, Queer Studies, Sexuality, Gender

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[6655321 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think that is is a frustrating yet really worthwhile book? or maybe a good groundwork that will occasionally irritate the shit out of (the assumed universal of my own experience reading things). Most glaringly Hennen makes the (pretty much well known) point that Faeries, Bears and Leathermen are all largely white communities but his reasoning behind this goes into "comparative literature with a vengeance" rather than, i dunno, maybe talking about how white bodies are constructed as the desirable bodies within these communities and the world at large? Nitpicking wise (and i think this is a good book, like a really good book, i just have a lot of nitpicks): the Faeries section would've maybe benefited from some engagement with "Spaces between Us. Queer Settler Colonialism and Indigenous Decolonization" (unless it hadn't been published yet?) and maybe could deal more with the appropriative nature of Faerie culture which relates to its relationship to femininity/masculinity which also structures this book along with why faerie culture is mostly white and middle class? With Bear culture if the structure of the book is filling out how men in subcultural communities queer masculinity perhaps some stronger focus on the dichotomy between bear cultures presentation of itself as nurturing/caring while the culture also has its own (readily readable) norms and ability to reject those that don't meet them? Finally, for Leathermen it seems odd that Kennith Anger is never mentioned despite a long history of biker gangs & leather in the post-war era and the overfocus on older leathermen works to erase a lot of interesting changes, esp. in terms of aggressive masculinity within gay leather culture (cf. Instigator Magazine, Tim Dean, etc.). Overall, i really liked the work but some things felt lacking?

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read with some questions and good insights

I really enjoyed this book. I chose this among five for an LGBT anthropology class because it seemed the most aligned with my personal history. The most interesting part is that though it's not that old it comes off as dated.i don't think this is any fault on the part of the author but rather a reflection of how far the queer movement has come in a fairly short amount of time. It's insightful and descriptive reading both like a narrative book and descriptive text.

[Javier Ormeno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the outcome of an extensive field research on masculinities in the gay community. Before going through it, I had the idea that it will be a description of the way in which gay people move from the heteronormative to enter into an equally constraining homonormative. i.e. the constrictions in which a person should be according to biological factors determine a specific group in which a person shall be secluded. While the author mentions type casting into three paradigmatic groups (androgynized fairies, hunky bears and hyper masculinized men resembling Tom of Finland art), the book explains that each group's identity narratives are developed to match particular emotional needs of individuals.
What is common to the three forms of embodying masculinity is that they were born presenting itself as a reaction to heteronymic standards of how a gay person should look like, and the identification of homosexuality with the feminine. This is true for the exacerbated heteronormative masculinity of the leather man, the acceptance of chubby hairy bodies of bears and faeries androgyny.
It is a very advisable reading both for academics and non-academics as it provides some tools for self-identification. Plus, it is very easy to read.

[kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ethnographic investigation of three gay subcultures in pursuit of new insight to their mobilization of masculinity. Solid balance of theory, fieldwork, lived experience, and archival history. The development of these three communities over the decades puts today's queer communities in a new historical perspective.

[Megalion]

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