Masculinities on the Side: An Exploration of the Function of Homosexism in Maintaining Hegemonic Masculinities and Sexualities

Following the work of Hellman, this paper examines homosexism (the stigmatisation of non-penetrative sexual activities of men who have sex with men as non-sexual practices) in relation to hegemony, masculinity, and sexuality theories. In doing so, it discusses the function of sides, men who have sex with men but do not engage in penetrative sexual practices, in relation to the maintenance of established, normative, and damaging notions of masculinities. The central question this paper addresses is what the significance of the stigmatisation of sides is. In addressing this question, the potential of sides to facilitate and inhibit normative hegemonic structures is considered while more in-depth research is deemed necessary. The aim of this paper is to extend the discussion on homosexism, acknowledge non-penetrative sexual practices as legitimate forms of sexual expression, and encourage further scholarly research that focuses on the potential of sides to challenge and subvert established normative understandings of genders and sexualities, as well as the power structures that are involved in the construction of such understandings