1 of 23

2 of 23

Fellas, is it really to express affection to your homies?

Burlington ^■ Ethan Perkins, Helia Woo, Jason Luna, Joseph Anderson

3 of 23

some Background

While examining the focus of current research, we have discovered that there are recent increases in acceptance of homosexuality and decreases in homophobia and homohysteria (McCormack & Anderson, 2010; McCormack, 2011).�
These studies focus on the concept of “bromance” and conversational dyads rather than group relationships among men and lack discussion of specific linguistic properties (Robinson et al, 2018).�
Other literature also discusses the stereotype of male conversation being emotionally closed and unaffectionate. (Sargent, 2013, Roberts et al, 2017)�
Our study aims to fill in this gap and explore how changes in support of homosexuality have also changed homosocial relationships.

4 of 23

some Definitions

homohysteria

queerbaiting, gay bait

the heterosexual male’s fear of being thought gay when perfoming gender atypical behaviors

deliberate insertion of homoerotic subtext in order to court a queer following without actualizing it

homophobia

attitudes and behaviors that demonstrate intolerance of sexual acts, identities, morality, and the rights of homosexuals

homiesexual

“straight men who go beyond bromance and display nonsexual signs of physical affection” - NYT

5 of 23

a gap in the Literature

studying the language of straight men? (whose speech is the norm? specifically looking at how they co-opt minority language?

We’re pioneers! 🤠🤠🤠🤠

6 of 23

our Hypotheses

Cisgender heterosexual (cishet) men will use language commonly indexed and correlated with women and homosexual men when interacting in homosocial conversations with friends.

This language may include compliments on attractiveness, calling one another pet names, raising pitch and using falsetto, hedging, and/or pausing.

7 of 23

Methods used

[Content Analysis] We transcribed 40 TikToks featuring cishet men in homosocial environments. Many of these videos were found with the tags #nohomo or #homiesexual, or on YouTube compilations of “straight guys being gay guys.”��[Conversational Analysis] We recorded and transcribed online calls (Discord) and in-person conversations between cishet men.

8 of 23

the Data / TikTok (1)

Homohysteria and Heteronormativity / an example

0:10 - 0:21 / @maximuscantos

9 of 23

the Data / TikTok (1.5)

Homohysteria and Heteronormativity

A: Smile if you like guys.

(C smiles, then makes a surprised face. C turns and runs away from the camera.)

A: (laughing)

C: Ay, take that out!

A: Smile if you like guys

(D's face freezes and his eyes shift from left to right until he finally cracks a smile. He runs away laughing.)

D: You're an ass

A: (laughing) He smiled.

(A and B sit next to each other in the front seat of the car.)

A: So like, are you going to tell your girlfriend about us or what?

B: I mean, she won't find out.

A: I mean, that's what you said last time; she gettin' a little sus

(A and B lean in to kiss each other. B's girlfriend is in the backseat and interrupts.)

C: ELIJAH

A: Oh shit

B: Ahhhhhh

@maximuscantos

@elijah.samaha

10 of 23

the Data / TikTok (2)

Gender Roles: Male Dominance

(note: A is a disembodied voice)

(B and C sit next to each other. B puts his hand on C's thigh. C takes off his sunglasses and frowns at B.)

A: (sultry voice) That feeling you get when your best buddy puts his hand on your thigh.

(guitar riff)

(C smiles, suppressing a laugh.)

A: And you feel your pecker head scrape against the zipper of your favorite pair of ripped jeans.

(C laughs helplessly.)

A: Your butthole puckers.

(B pans the camera towards the wheel, which has a slip of paper labeled "FORD" taped over the original logo.)

A: That's the feeling of driving a Ford truck.

A: Ford. No girls allowed.

(The camera pans back to C, who pulls B's hand off his thigh.)

(German to English translation provided by u/Schlotany)

(A watches B approach on a horse.)

A: Can I pet it?

B: You can try it.

(B stops the horse.)

B: Go to the front.

(A strokes (pets) B's thigh. B pushes A's hand off.)

B: Not me. Get your hand off me.

C: (laughing)

C: Come on, pet it.

B: There in the front, you're allowed to [pet].

(A approaches the horse's head and pets it.)

@grahamnation_

u/theswanoftuonela

11 of 23

the Data / TikTok (3)

Male Intimacy / an example

3:57 / @wyattgregory_77

12 of 23

the Data / TikTok (3.5)

(A is lying down and the camera is pointed at B, who is also lying down on his stomach scrolling on his phone. B's butt is raised and he is moving it side to side.)

A: Should I spread my legs so [inaudible]

(B lifts and lowers his hips while lying down multiple times.)

B: Oh my god.

B: I think I'm gay.

(A flips the camera to show his face before saying "I think I'm gay.")

(The video is captioned with 4 blushing emojis.)

Male Intimacy

(A is about to leave.)

A: All right buddy, I'm headin' out bud.

(A and B bro hug.)

B: All right, love ya buddy.

(A starts to leave, then pauses to talk to B. A walks back to B.)

A: You say you love me?

B: Yeah, love you.

A: Wait, you really mean that?

B: Yeah, I mean that. I love you.

A: Wait, bro, are we wearin' the same outfit?

B: Yeah, we are. Come here.

(A walks back to B. B leans in to kiss A. A pulls back.)

A: Woah buddy, we aren't there yet bud.

B starts to eat a sausage.

@wyattgregory_77

@ozcar9898

13 of 23

an Analysis / Content Analysis

Homohysteria and Heteronormativity� heteronormativity makes homosexuality comedic� homohysteria through the form of no homo / comedy

Gender Roles: Male Dominance� advances at the expense of the other’s comfort� one upping / competitive gay [gay chicken]� hypersexual perception of gayness

Male Intimacy� the extremes (distant bro hugs or romantic & sexual advances)� mimicking gayness to display friendship� using pet names� displaying physical intimacy

14 of 23

the Data / recording (1)

Interaction 1

Interaction 2

In total, we were able to get about an hour in recorded audio from groups of heterosexual males both on group Discord calls and in person. Afterwards, we listened back to the audio and transcribed the interactions. We were looking for flirtatious behavior, like pet names or compliments, as well as language patterns that would typically be associated with non-heterosexual men or heterosexual women, such as hedging or high intonation. Interactions seemed to fall under a few different categories. They have been numbered based on what order we are presenting them in, not the order they were uttered during recordings. Firstly, we have complements, which tend to be a form of flirtatious speech. Most complements were innocent—not overtly sexual—and had to do with the appearance of the other person: Here we have interactions 1 and 2

15 of 23

the Data / recording (2)

Interaction 4

Interaction 3

16 of 23

the Data / recording (3)

Interaction 5

Interaction 6

17 of 23

the Data / recording (4)

Interaction 7

18 of 23

an Analysis / intonation (1)