Dominant Masculinity and Marginalized Sexuality: Extending Minority Stress Theory for Gay and Bisexual plus Men

Sexual minority men's experience of proximal minority stress takes multiple forms with an array of deleterious effects on their physical and psychological health. One potential contributor to proximal stress is the conformity to dominant masculine norms in a heterosexist society (e.g., primacy of work, power over women). This study examined the relationship between conformity to nine distinct masculine norms and three proximal stress indicators (internalized heterosexism, stigma consciousness, and concealment motivation) among gay and bisexual+ men with sexual orientation tested as a moderator of these relationships. Two-hundred seventy-four sexual minority men took the online survey and hierarchical regressions confirmed the association between several masculine norms and proximal stress. Specifically, conforming to primacy of work and power over women were related to higher levels of internalized heterosexism; conforming to playboy norms related to greater stigma consciousness; and conforming to emotional control and power over women related to higher concealment motivation. Additionally, there were two significant moderating effects: (a) sexual orientation was a significant moderator of the relationship between conformity to violence and internalized heterosexism and (b) conformity to primacy of work was a significant predictor of greater internalized heterosexism for bisexual+ men but not gay men. Results point to the costs of conformity to dominant masculinity norms for sexual minority men, as well as the importance of recognizing the heterogeneity that exists among sexual minority men. Theoretical, clinical, and policy implications are discussed.