THE INFLUENCE OF DOMINANT CULTURAL IDEALS ON THE MENTAL AND SEXUAL HEALTH OF HOMOSEXUAL MEN: An exploratory study of the "Bear" phenomenon

Dilcio Dantas Guedes

doi:10.32351/rca.v7.280

Authors

Dilcio Dantas Guedes Universidad del Salvador https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8422-9755

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32351/rca.v7.280

Política de Crossmark DOI: https://doi.org/10.32351/politica-crossmark

Keywords:

Homosexuality, Subjectivity, Masculinity, Minority, Stress

Abstract

This project aimed to understand possible associations between the influence of dominant cultural ideals on the mental and sexual health of homosexual men self-identified as "Bears". Participants responded to standard questionnaires which assessed internalized homonegativity, occurrence of heterosexist events, anti-feminine preconceptions toward gay men, mood, and syndemic count of factors associated with minority stress and potential protective factors. Results showed that the loss or absence of support from attachment networks and higher nicotine consumption were the factors that affected participants the most. These impacts were associated with adherence to heteronormative ideals and negative attitudes against female gender expressions in men that seem to generate diffuse anxiety, the expectation of suffering heterosexist harassment, and internalized homophobia. These findings are important because they flagged associations between manifest adaptive behaviours to hegemonic expectations among these men that mask deeper psychological conflicts.

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Author Biography

Dilcio Dantas Guedes, Universidad del Salvador

Psicoterapeuta (Family Service Toronto, Canadá). Candidato al Doctorado en Psicología (Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires) y Magister en Psicología del Desarrollo (Université Paris 10 - Nanterre/La Défense, Francia).

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