Progression of Femmephobia in the LGBTQ+ Community

Abstract

All around, men are raised not to be a "sissy", "gay", or a "faggot". Gay men are, then sculpted by a masculinity framework that, from their early years, will not fully accept them. In an attempt to be accepted, gay men often try to make up for their homosexuality through the performance of masculinity centered on suppression of the feminine.Femmephobia, in this context, is the suppression or rejection of feminine features. In the LGBTQ+ community, femmephobia is driven by the media and masculinity factors that are manifested in standards of attractiveness, but can also be broken down by media outlets that combat these ideas. Media has shaped gay men's perception of body image, standards of beauty, and have led to the progression of femmephobia within the community as a mode of restoring their masculinity that would not accept them. The introduction of alternative ideas of masculinity and gender perception are necessary for creating an inclusive form of masculinity that would promote a greater acceptance of all, and reduce femmephobia in society. Challenges against this masculinity are at work through various routes especially through the media. These venues are creating spaces where male femininity can be further explored and redefined.