Like a Bear: Meaty Masculine Body of Fat Gay in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Wei-Chuan Li, 李偉銓
• Other Authors: Y. K. Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/90538146451201628099

碩士 === 世新大學 === 性別研究所 === 101 === The aim of this study is to discuss fat male bodies in Taiwan gay community: “Bear” is represented as one of the classifications of gay body types. The definition of “bear” differs; what’s the decisive point when we discuss the sameness and differences of bear bodies? What these fat gay males may undergo as they embrace various definitions of “bear”? Through making and performing a “bear” body, how do fat gay males construct their masculinity? What’s the particularity of it? How do fat gay male bodies become a desirable category with gay community? How are the desires toward meaty and fat bodies closed off and represented? What’s the scenario of “meaty sexiness” of fat gay male bodies? This thesis adopted qualitative research methods conducting 5 focused interviews in Taiwan and enlisting 35 gays to demonstrate the plural answers to the question: “What is bear?” Boundary images of bears’ body types are drawn by informants on the body type triangle to outline two tendencies: “fat-including” and “fat-excluding”, and analyze the differences between the two. In addition, I also notice that there is the “bear clone” phenomenon based on a hegemony of body aesthetics, which makes “original bears” who have lower body and masculine capital, evolve into “transformed bears”, who have higher body capital so that higher social capital in gay community. Following this body aesthetics, this study further indicates the particular position of bears’ masculinity in gay communities. Finally, this thesis narrates how meaty body of gay males is being sexy and how desire toward meaty bodies is represented, and tries to liberate meaty sexualities which is long being peripheral in mainstream gay culture.