Many other non-american cultures allow men to hug each other (even kiss each other on the cheek - like Italians) without the gay labeling. However some of those cultures are very oppressive to women (like Pakistan). Our society is no longer oppressive to women - in a broad sense. There are some West African cultures where it is normal for men to use sewing machines to make clothes (and are not gay), Brazilian culture allows men to freely express themselves during the Carnival festival without being thought of as gay, and of course Irish men wear 'kilts' (or skirts) and are not labeled as gay. Is it possible for American culture to loosen some cultural restrictions on men? It may help to bring women and men to a better understanding about each other.
2006-12-01 10:46:56 · 19 answers · asked by SoftLocks 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
If there were not so much hatred of gay men, men hugging each other would not be an issue. Your concern seems to be that heterosexual men should have more freedom to behave as they please without being labeled gay. If gay weren't an insult, then what would it matter? Sadly, most of the people who've answered seem to accept the premise that gay is indeed an insult.
The real problem is anti-gay bigotry, and it's not as if the countries you've mentioned are any more accepting of gay men than the US. In fact, I'd say most of them are less accepting.
I've never heard any discussion about how awful it is that someone would assume a man to be heterosexual because of something he said or did.
Personally, I'd like to see a change so that gay men could actually hug each other and behave precisely as heterosexual couples do without being targets of harassment, ridicule and violence.
2006-12-01 11:03:00 · answer #1 · answered by Angry Gay Man 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My husband and his friends hug all of the time. That's what they do- they don't shake hands, they don't high five (unless they're drunk and baiting each other on). But a hug is the common salutation among my husband and his friends. Now, in professional America, he doesn't hug, he shakes hands. Studies actually show that Americans have a larger area of "personal space" than other cultures. This could be some of the reasoning that men call other men "gay" when they hug.... invading their personal space. Calling each other "gay" for some men is a term of endearment, it is also used when people do something that others aren't comfortable with.
I think that there are little cultural restrictions on whether or not men can hug one another. As I've said before, I see it on a daily.
Hope this adds some insight.
2006-12-01 11:01:43 · answer #2 · answered by Summer 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I understand the stigma but I don't really see it being played out in our culture the way it used to be or the way we see it in the media and entertainment world. I see men hug all the time and it's usually just a greeting to one another. I do think we could work on how we view men that are hair stylists, nurses or those who tend to work in creative fields that have traditionally been taken by women. I do hear a lot of comments like "He must be gay if he does hair" That simply isn't always the case. Overall I think Americans are getting better at dropping the gay label just because men show some "affection" to one another.
2006-12-01 10:59:47 · answer #3 · answered by DreamingofU 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
men will do a similar, I even have seen it. the version is that girls human beings are plenty extra affectionate then men.. for sure plenty extra affectionate. they might in specific circumstances quite carry hands and cuddle all night, adversarial to having intercourse, the place as men would quite have intercourse. So, being affectionate out in public is merely a womans factor. yet once you bypass to gay bars, holy crud!!! numerous that occuring at mens gay bars!
2016-10-04 14:56:40 · answer #4 · answered by wardwell 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Possible yes. Depends on the part of the country you live. And we are talking about an affectionate hug, not this stupid slap each other on the back.
2014-09-21 14:34:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, of course. You don't have to be gay to give a hug. That is just a silly stereotype that few even think about.
2006-12-01 10:51:46 · answer #6 · answered by just julie 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Believe you me it is possible for that to happen. Anybody who thinks of two men hugging one another in public or women hugging one another in public as being gay, then they're extremely ignorant.
2006-12-01 10:54:19 · answer #7 · answered by iwannarevolt 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. My oldest friend Tommy hugs me everytime we see each other. which is not very often. 30 + years of friendship and many broads past we are still brothers and have love in our hearts.
2006-12-01 10:57:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
American love hugging in public.
2006-12-01 10:48:01 · answer #9 · answered by Webballs 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Sure, American men can hug each other to express strong affinity. No one I know would think they were homos just because of that, and what if they did? Who cares what jerks think?
2006-12-01 10:55:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋