The Politics of Masculinity and the Ex-Gay Movement

• Published in: Gender & society Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 650 - 675
• Main Authors: Robinson, Christine M., Spivey, Sue E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Sage Publications 01.10.2007; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Change; Christianity; Gays & lesbians; Gender; Gender differentiation; Gender identity; Gender roles; Gender studies; Heterosexuality; Homophobia; Homosexuality; Male homosexuality; Masculinity; Men; Mothers; Organizations; Political movements; Religion; Right Wing Politics; Sexual behaviour; Sexuality; Social activism; Social environment; Social movements; Sons; U.S.A; social movements; masculinity; gender; sexuality; religion
• ISSN: 0891-2432; 1552-3977
• DOI: 10.1177/0891243207306384

The purpose of this research is to investigate the masculinity politics of the ex-gay movement, a loose-knit network of religious, scientific, and political organizations that advocates change for homosexuals. Guided by Risman's gender structure theory, the authors analyze the individual, interactional, and institutional dimensions of gender in ex-gay discourses. The authors employ critical discourse analysis of representative ex-gay texts to deconstruct the movement's gender ideology and to discuss the social implications of its masculinity politics. They argue that gender is one of the ex-gay movement's most potent social movement resources, enabling it to consolidate power by enlisting new populations and to globalize by adapting to cultural contexts beyond the United States. The authors conclude that the ex-gay movement is an antigay countermovement and an antifeminist Christian Right men's movement.