Gay Men, Straight Jobs [Paperback]

Dan Woog (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

There is no denying that the closet door has swung wide open for gay men in many professions, from medicine to movie producing. But for many men, working in more blue-collar, male-dominated environments, the workplace remains a place of secrets and fear of discovery. Journalist Dan Woog, who has previously examined the intersections-and often collisions-of sexual orientation and societal expectation in athletics ( Jocks ) and education ( School's Out ) applies his sharp, empathetic skills to these profiles of gay men who work in what might traditionally be thought of as "straight jobs." Logging, Wall Street trading, police work, news anchoring and firefighting are just a few of the professions that seem to attract only straight men. But, of course, appearances do not match reality. The sometimes liberating, sometimes frightening, sometimes tragic experiences of gay men working in these environments are spotlighted in an intimate, thought-provoking manner that reveals important truths about what makes today's society truly work.

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, and gay activist. His articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today. He is a contributing writer for The Advocate magazine. He is the author of 11 books, including two collections of his most popular newspaper columns.

Also Available by Dan Woog:

Jocks

TP 12.95, 1-55583-399-3 CUSA

School's Out

TP 12.95, 1-55583-249-0 CUSA

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dan Woog is a journalist, educator, soccer coach, and gay activist. His articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and USA Today. He is a contributing writer for The Advocate magazine. He is the author of 11 books, including two collections of his most popular newspaper columns.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books; 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155583616X
• ISBN-13: 978-1555836160
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,315,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dan Woog Hits Home Again, December 22, 2001

By 

Dan Sealy (Bethesda MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gay Men, Straight Jobs (Paperback)

As one of the subjects Mr. Woog chose for the book (park ranger) I was pleased to see how he treated my very personal story. Those who know me gave me great feedback on how accurate his depiction was and, more importantly, several people who are struggling with coming out at work have contacted me for help. The writing shows compassion and humor. My friends who have read it highly recommend the book as do I. Though I was a little shy about it, I'm glad I told my story to Mr. Woog.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A near academic look at social expectations, March 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Gay Men, Straight Jobs (Paperback)

Depending on your point of view, writer Dan Woog might be either a maverick or a pioneer. In his earlier "Jocks" series, Woog may well have essentially initiated the diaglogue that acknowledged that there are gays in pro sports. Here, in "Gay Men, Straight Jobs," Woog again takes on the challenge of portraying gays realistically: as they behave and as they are expected to behave based on societal expectations and demands. And it's from that perspective - profiling the gay man within the framework of institutional mores - that makes Woog something of an academic sociologist. An array of occupations perhaps traditionally thought to be exclusively straight are presented here by their gay workers: police officers, fire fighters, upscale Wall Streeters and even television news reporters. What emerges is how workers in those and other fields manage to balance their sexual orientation with the expectations and mores of their respective professions, and how those expectations relate to the larger society. To gain any meaningful information from this book, particularly if you're a gay man struggling to fit into your own social and occupational frameworks, it's best to read the book as something of a self-help guide. Don't expect any simmering accounts of gay sex: if you want that, look elsewhere. More important than that, you might find something here that has actual long-term benefits.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Important, November 14, 2001

By 

Michael Woitalla (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gay Men, Straight Jobs (Paperback)

Dan Woog has once again written an engaging and important book about being gay in America. It's tempting to call Woog the gay community's Studs Terkel, but that may not do Woog justice. The skillful manner in which he conveys his subjects' experiences makes this book fascinating reading no matter how close one is to the issue.