In Not Gay: Sex Between Straight White Men, out last month from NYU Press, Jane Ward, an associate professor of women’s studies at the University of California, Riverside, makes the case that this is a flawed understanding. This divide stems from a common understanding of human sexuality: The female variety of it is more malleable, more inherently open to experimentation and variety, than the male variety. When straight women hook up with other straight women, no real explanation is required when straight men hook up with other straight men, it’s a different story. When heterosexual men hook up with each other, on the other hand, it’s seen either as an act born of desperation - think men who are locked up - or an indication that while they may claim to be straight, they really aren’t - think disgraced GOP members of Congress. When heterosexual women make out with one another at a bar or party, it’s generally understood that they’re simply playing around for attention, or exploring the fluid space that is female sexuality. There’s a pretty clear gender divide in how Americans deal with straight people who dabble in gay activity. Michael Cera and Jonah Hill share a bromantic moment in Superbad.
