What's Up Guys?
Josh and I enjoyed leading the class discussion, but wanted to build on the discussion that we were having towards the end of class concerning the reasons why teenage boys call each other "gay." In the Bros Before Hoes Article, the author states "the homophobia that defines and animates the daily conversations of Guyland is at least as much about masculinity as it is about sexuality." Such a statement explicates the fact that many boys utilize the term gay to insult the actions of other boys, not their sexual orientation. Moreover, the term "gay is utilized as a means to inform other boys of actions that defy the the basic rules of masculinity. Throughout the article, the author does not heavily discuss the sexual relations between two teenage boys, yet he frequently utilizes the term homophoia. However, this use of homophobia is different from the traditional use. In this context, the author utilizes homphobia to describe "fear of other men." With this notion in mind, perhaps, all boys infatuated with masculinity can be considered homosexual, even those that abide by the rules of guy code.
Another interesting tool the author utilizes in the Guyand article is the reference to Eminem. In class we discussed why we believed Eminem felt the need to insult his enemies and opponents through the use of homosexual insults. The article I have posted below this passage discusses a situation that arose in 2009 when Eminem released his Elevator Song. In the song, Eminem pokes fun at celebrities such as Clay Aiken or Adam Lambert, both of whom are openly gay. However, Eminem deviates from his normal use of the "f word" and utilizes "fake it" to insult these celebrities. Many gay-news sites have deemed this action an attack at the gay community. Perhaps Eminem's actions provide evidence for the fact that boys are directly referencing homosexual behavior when they use the term gay.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627699/whats-eminem-saying-about-adam-lambert-on-elevator.jhtml
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