Masculine Marine: Homoeroticism in the U.S. Marine Corps (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies) [Paperback]

Steven Zeeland (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1560238747 | ISBN-13: 978-1560238744 | Publication Date: September 11, 1996 | Edition: 1

This exciting book was listed as #1 on The Advocate’s (ital) bestseller list for December 1996! In The Masculine Marine, author Steven Zeeland records, for the first time ever, what active-duty Marines have to say about what it means to be a man, to be a Marine, and to desire other men.

As the foremost surviving icon of traditional masculinity, Marines are often considered the opposite of “gay.” Yet in contemporary gay culture, Marines are stereotyped as likely to play the passive role in sexual encounters with other men. By vividly illustrating some of the startling ways in which gay and Marine attributes can coincide, The Masculine Marine uncovers the wild sexual contradictions built into military hypermasculinity.

From ordinary grunts to a major who flies a combat jet, Zeeland’s Marine interviewees provide thoughtful and articulate insight into aspects of this rarely documented culture, including:

• homoerotic bonding among Marines
• how gay Marines reconcile their sexual identity with the ethos of “hard” Marine supermasculinity
• how some Marines eroticize the pain and humiliation of Marine Corps boot camp
• Marines in all-male pornography
• male attitudes toward women in the Marine Corps
• hazing and institutional violence
  
  These Marines talk candidly about what motivated them to join the United States’most elite fighting force, and they reveal how becoming Marines has shaped their sexual and gender identities. For the student of gay or military studies or anyone sexually intrigued by men in uniform, The Masculine Marine must reading.
  
  Visit Steven Zeeland at his home page: http://www.stevenzeeland.com

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Masculine Marine: Homoeroticism In The U. S. Marine Corps dissects the complexities of military hypergender. Steven Zeeland elicits astonishingly candid responses from a diverse sampling of Marines to questions about aspects of this rarely documented subculture. Their answers shed light on homoerotic bonding among Marines, hazing and institutional violence, sexual stereotypes of Marines in gay culture, how gay Marines reconcile their sexual identity with the ethos of "hard" Marine supermasculinity, Marines in all-male pornography, how Marines feel about being viewed as sex objects, and male attitudes about women in the Marine Corps. Interwove throughout The Masculine Marine is the author's own personal narrative of how he came to know Marines. The Masculine Marine is a ground-breaking, seminal work that will be of great interest to the gay community and the student of the contemporary military subculture. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (September 11, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560238747
• ISBN-13: 978-1560238744
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #690,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A revealing study of Homosexuality Vs. The Marine Corps., January 31, 2001

By 

D. Sinclair - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Masculine Marine: Homoeroticism in the U.S. Marine Corps (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies) (Paperback)

Military homophobia has always been somewhat of a paradox. Sex between soldiers is officially strictly forbidden, unofficially tolerated (as long as it does not become public knowledge and the 'offenders' retain their official heterosexual identity), and unconsciously encouraged, by forcing men to live together in close quarters without any substantial privacy, by limiting their access to female partners and by promoting close friendships.

That is the reason why military life is a favourite subject of gay pornography, and the military subconscious is keenly aware of it. But consciously, the policy remains "dont' ask, don't tell." Sex, love and relationships between service members remain taboo, and are officially grounds for dismissal.

Yet behind the veil of denial and secrecy, there is a small but thriving gay culture within the military. Zeeland has made it his life's work to study this culture, both in theory and in practice - which is to say he has sex with servicemen and then asks them for their life's story. The stories he has so elicited are candid, but do not go into too much sexual detail.

The present volume is devoted to the Marine Corps, and it explores the interaction between gay male sexualty and the psychological setup of the marines: hyper-masculinity, elite consciousness and unconditional obedience. It shows how gay marines manage to live under the threat of discovery and dismissal, and hold up to the double pressure of having to hide the secret of being gay in the high-pressure environment of the Marine Corps.

This book is a serious psychological study and affords greater insight into military homophobia than well-considered outside accounts. It is erotic at times, but not pornographic. If that's what you are looking for, look elsewhere.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zeeland gets it right, October 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Masculine Marine: Homoeroticism in the U.S. Marine Corps (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies) (Paperback)

Zeeland is an extraordinarily skillful and intimate interviewer who makes you feel like the only people in the room are the Marine and the interviewer ... and the reader. He asks the questions I want to ask these military men and you can tell he is thoroughly enjoying his work. Too bad our society can't handle the truth he uncovers by talking to these guys. This book should be on the Commandant's Reading List -- required reading by all Marines!

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic and touching, June 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Masculine Marine: Homoeroticism in the U.S. Marine Corps (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies) (Paperback)

I'm a Marine myself and I found this book a real description of the life of a gay man in the U.S. Marine Corps.I liked the stories and the way that Zeeland leads the conversations.The only thing I didn't like was that he didn't get the best of each interview and it lacks some intimacy at some point.Nevertheless it's a great book and after read it you will want to read it again and again.