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Peacocks, Chameleons, Centaurs: Gay Suburbia and the Grammar of Social Identity
What does it mean to be a gay man living in the suburbs? Do you identify primarily as gay, or suburban, or some combination of the two? For that matter, how does anyone decide what his or her identity is?
In this first-ever ethnography of American gay suburbanites, Wayne H. Brekhus demonstrates that who one is depends at least in part on where and when one is. For many urban gay men, being homosexual is key to their identity because they live, work, and socialize in almost exclusively gay circles. Brekhus calls such men "lifestylers" or peacocks. Chameleons or "commuters," on the other hand, live and work in conventional suburban settings, but lead intense gay social and sexual lives outside the suburbs. Centaurs, meanwhile, or "integrators," mix typical suburban jobs and homes with low-key gay social and sexual activities. In other words, lifestylers see homosexuality as something you are, commuters as something you do, and integrators as part of yourself.
Ultimately, Brekhus shows that lifestyling, commuting, and integrating embody competing identity strategies that occur not only among gay men but across a broad range of social categories. What results, then, is an innovative work that will interest sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, and students of gay culture.
In this first-ever ethnography of American gay suburbanites, Wayne H. Brekhus demonstrates that who one is depends at least in part on where and when one is. For many urban gay men, being homosexual is key to their identity because they live, work, and socialize in almost exclusively gay circles. Brekhus calls such men "lifestylers" or peacocks. Chameleons or "commuters," on the other hand, live and work in conventional suburban settings, but lead intense gay social and sexual lives outside the suburbs. Centaurs, meanwhile, or "integrators," mix typical suburban jobs and homes with low-key gay social and sexual activities. In other words, lifestylers see homosexuality as something you are, commuters as something you do, and integrators as part of yourself.
Ultimately, Brekhus shows that lifestyling, commuting, and integrating embody competing identity strategies that occur not only among gay men but across a broad range of social categories. What results, then, is an innovative work that will interest sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, and students of gay culture.
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 7, 2015
While I think this was a great representation of the ideal types the author set out to explain, and I've seen them realized in my everyday life, this book was incredibly drawn out. The examples were supple, helping the layperson to see where else besides gay surburbia these ideal types can be witnessed. But the overall concepts were so exhausted and the book became increasingly repetitive. There was little reason for each chapter to be so long, as much of the same thing was said over and over again in 30 different ways. It was an easy read, nothing complicated. Unfortunately I had a limited time frame to enjoy this book (for a class), but it doesn't matter, as I found myself skimming and getting the gist of each paragraph with the last couple chapters.
November 2, 2022
It was pretty good as far as books for class go. I can’t fault the author but it needs to be updated with modern perspectives.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews