Gay Sadomasochism as Hyper-Masculine Performance

1. Gay Sadomasochism as Hyper-Masculine Performance Curtis M. Kularski 6 May 2013

2. What is Sadomasochism? • Infliction of pain or other strong sensation for erotic arousal • Often involves hitting, slapping, pinching, biting and tickling • Does not necessarily involve sexual intercourse for gratification

3. Related Concepts and Constructions • Bondage • Domination/Submission • Role Playing • Fetish • “Leather Sex” • Related concepts build on sadomasochism in identity formation Flag of BDSM/Fetish community

4. Fetish In Sadomasochism • Process through which material masculinity is simultaneously appropriated and eroticized • Certain types of clothing and objects are socially constructed as masculine: • Military uniforms • Football and other sport uniforms • Sport bikes (“crotch rockets”) • Masculine identity is also assigned to certain materials: • Leather • Steel • Fetish objects are culturally linked with masculinity • Fetish changes with changes to masculine styles/interests

5. Performativity • Various levels of performance and performativity • Performative– Sub-conscious, Contextual • Performance – Conscious/Masc. Drag • Coping with degraded masculinity • Hyper-masculine performance

6. Gay Macho Performances in Guyland • Pain and risk taking are manly • Intimacy is “gay”, trust is not • Challenge and hierarchy among men • Sexual prowess is rewarded • The more “boys” the better • Presentation of an always “on” sex drive • Honor, not backing down from a challenge

7. Example: Predicament Bondage • Painful bondage position • Military uniform fetishized • Physical body complies with hegemon • Portrays authoritative masculine stereotype • Emulates a “hero” type • Fully clothed • Consensually – trusts “captor” • Chain shows D/s commitment

8. The Passive Paradox • Passivity is socially constructed as non-masculine • Bondage preserves masculine image, allows for resistance • Submitting to S/M scene is analogous to “submitting” to a sports competition • Passive participants enter seeking to test themselves • Both participants seek a homosocial bond through the giving and receiving of pain • Homosocial bond becomes homosexual attraction

9. Relationship To Guyland • Gay sadomasochistic masculinity attempts to copy in fetish and role play the traits that are distinct about Guyland: • S/M clubs maintaining male-alcohol atmosphere (similar to sports bars) • Sports are invoked through “gear” fetishes • Role-playing includes working-class roles and hyper-masculine types • BDSM encourages consensual behavior, but emulates non-consensual acts • “No Means No, Unless You Are Hard”

10. Gender Performance in Sadomasochism • Between men, shows of affection or emotion are sanctioned and discouraged • S/M is not a normal space of masculinity • Men can scream and cry in S/M scene with no adverse impact • Some S/M situations allow for an interpretation of masculinity that is vulnerable

11. Problems In Gay S/M • Reproduces power structures in masculinity • Often maintains “gendered” binary between sadist and masochist • Establishes masculinity as superior form of gender presentation • Can be separated from sexuality – maintaining physical homophobia

12. Conclusion • Gay sadomasochistic masculinity replicates hegemonic masculinity • Heterosexist hegemon requires hyper-masculine presentation for gay men to be “men” • Masculinity is replicated in fetishes, role-playing and performance • The replication of masculinity is potentially harmful