It’s a Man’s World: A Qualitative Study of Gender and Sexuality amongst Australian Gay Men

Abstract

Currently, research explicitly examining masculinity and internalized homonegativity is sparse, and even fewer studies use qualitative methods. To address this gap, this study aims to explore: how gender norms are constructed and experienced among gay men; and how gender and sexual identity are experienced in relation to masculine norms among gay men. A sample of 32 self-identified gay men aged 22–72 years (M = 34.34, SD = 12.94) participated in an online semi-structured interview on masculinity and homosexuality. The study utilized Zoom to facilitate the online interviews due to its advantages in privacy, accessibility, ease of use, and voice recording capabilities. Thematic analyses revealed gay men’s understandings of masculinity, femininity, and sources of pressure to conform. Furthermore, gay men emphasized the conflict experienced between heteronormative gender and sexuality norms, highlighting the term "homosexual male" as an oxymoron.