Gregory K. Lehne - Homophobia Among Men-Male Role -...

society: The social
d.). Chicago: The
~93). The impor-
I the in-depth in-
lsestudies of male
:0-291.
dships, women's
~riority of the lat-
c
male sex role. I believe that it must be elimi-
nated for fundamental changes to occur in male
and female roles. To support this thesis, I will
discuss first whether homophobia reflects an ac-
curate perception and understanding of homo-
sexuality or whether it is an irrational fear. Then
I will examine the social aspects of homophobia
and personal characteristics of people who are
highly homophobic. Finally, I will explore the
social functions of homophobia in maintaining
the male sex role, and its effects on society and
the individual.
Is Homophobia
Irrational?
Homophobia is irrational because it generally
embodies misconceptions and false stereotypes
of male homosexuality. These belief systems, or
prejudices, are rationalizations supporting ho-
mophobia, not causes of homophobia. Levitt
and Klassen's 1973 Kinsey Institute study of
3,000 American adults found the following be-
liefs about homosexuality to be widespread: ho-
mosexuals are afraid of the opposite sex (56% of
Homophobia is the irrational fear or intolerance
of homosexuality. Although both men and
women can be homophobic, homophobia is
most often associated with the fear of male ho-
mosexuality. Homophobia is not currently
classified as a "mental illness" (neither is homo-
sexuality), although psychiatrists such as Dr.
George Weinberg (1972) have stated,"I would
never consider a patient healthy unless he had
overcome his prejudice against homosexuality."
Homophobia is the threat implicit in "Mat are
you, a fag?" If male homosexuality were no
more threatening than being left-handed, for
example, homophobia would not exist. In many
ways, and in all but extreme cases, homophobia
is a socially determined prejudice much like sex-
ism or racism, rather than a medically recog-
nized phobia.
Homophobia, as I will show, does not exist
in most cases as an isolated trait or prejudice; it
is characteristic of individuals who are generally
rigid and sexist.Homophobia, with its associated
dynamic of fear of being labeled a homosexual,is
an underlying motivation in maintaining the
[email protected] 1980 by Gregory K. Lehne. Reprinted by per-
mission.
237

238
PART FOUR MEN WITH MEN: FRIENDSHIPS AND FEARS
pictures of male nudes, or male homosexual
activities (McConaghy, 1967; Turnbull and
Brown, 1977). Thus, the evidence shows that
homosexual males have no particular aversion to
women or heterosexual intercourse, although
heterosexual males often do have aversions to
male nudes and homosexual activity.
Another popular stereotype is that homo-
sexual men are similar to women, in appearance
and/or psychological functioning. For example,
Tavris (1977) reports that 70% of the Psychology
Today readership believesthat "homosexual men
are not fully masculine." Studies reported by
Freedman (1971) as well as Saghir and Robins
(1973) suggest that only about 15% of male ho-
mosexuals appear effeminate. Effeminacy itself is
highly stigmatized in the homosexual subculture.