Homosocial intimacy among Australian undergraduate men

Abstract

Homophobia and the avoidance of same-sex intimacy have traditionally been considered defining characteristics of heterosexual masculinity. They have not only subjugated gay men, but have maintained negative health implications for heterosexual men as well. However, in response to decreasing homohysteria, researchers from the United Kingdom found that 89% of British undergraduate heterosexual men have engaged in a particular type of same-sex kiss. This research seeks to examine whether this cultural shift, and corresponding homosocial intimacy, is evident among Australian undergraduate men. Among the 90 heterosexual men interviewed, 29% report having engaged in at least one same-sex kiss. Results indicate a changing relationship between the construction of Australian heteromasculinity and the avoidance of same-sex behaviours.

‘Charlie Is So Cool Like’: Authenticity, Popularity and Inclusive Masculinity on YouTube

“…It has also been found that heterosexual men in Britain (Anderson, Adams and Rivers, 2012), Australia (Drummond, Filiault, Anderson and Jeffries, 2014) and 6 the United States (Anderson, 2014) frequently kiss one another as expressions of homosocial endearment.…”

Twelve not so angry men: Inclusive masculinities in Australian contact sports

“…Yet, as they are also evidence of the wider cultural transformation of masculinities reflected in Australian society, whereby softer presentations of masculinity are evident (Drummond et al, 2015). Accordingly, the narratives of these twelve Australian contact sportsmen, from the codes of rugby union, rugby league and Australian rules football, have challenged many of the characteristics of orthodox masculinity and contribute to the expanding portfolio of inclusive masculinities literature (Anderson, 2014;Anderson and McGuire, 2010;Channon and Matthews, 2015;Cleland, 2014;Crocket, 2012;Dashper, 2012;Drummond et al, 2015;Jarvis, 2015;Magrath, 2015;Morris and Anderson, 2015;Roberts, 2013Roberts, , 2014.…”

“…The idea that masculinities and femininities had blurred was also explained by Romeo recognises that the acceptable boundaries of heterosexuality have shifted, blurred and become significantly more flexible, something documented by numerous scholars (Adams, 2011;Crocket, 2012;Dashper, 2012;Drummond et al, 2015;Jarvis, 2015;Magrath, Anderson and Roberts, 2014;Morris and Anderson, 2015;Roberts, 2013Roberts, , 2014Ward, 2015) in their field of inclusive masculinity.…”

“…Yet, there is a dearth of inclusive masculinities scholarship in both the Australian context, with only one notable exception (Drummond et al, 2015), and on body contact sports (Anderson, McCormack and Lee, 2012;Anderson and McGuire, 2010). Contributing to previous literature, this research seeks to close that gap by examining the experiences of twelve contact sportsmen in Australia.…”

“…Drummond et al (2015) examined the prevalence of kissing among straight male athletes and non-athletes in an Australian university. Concurrent with the findings of previous inclusive masculinity scholarship on same-sex kissing 6 (Anderson, Adams and Rivers, 2012), Australian men were also kissing their male friends (Drummond et al 2015), although in lesser rates than British men, and higher rates than American. Although Anderson (2014) found more non-athletes to be kissing than athletes, in the UK, this was not evident in the Australian study.…”