Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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!

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.

My first encounter with this book was back in high school, I was still struggling with my sexuality and desperately trying to find anyone and anything to identify with. On my many trips to the local library I would secretly browse the Gay and Lesbian section and scan the books in hopes of being able to find something to tell me I wasnt alone. I many times ended up with this novel in my hands and religiously studied it untill the library closed. With not much in my future but mediocre jobs and a lifetime of 9-5 ratraces. I decided to join the Marine Corps despite the fact that I knew I was gay and the military's strict guidance on homosexuality.Against the wishes of my mother and father I enlisted and was shipped off to MCRD San Diego. Flash forward 2 1/2 yrs as I write this review. From personal experience I can assure you that the experiences in this book are very commonplace and widespread.Durning my time in 2 duty stations in the states and abroad, I've infiltrated not only the dominate male-ruled secular society of the Marine Corps. but the other subculture of gay marines ( and sailors )that many would like to think does not exist. From privates to the higest ranks Ive had the pleasure of meeting some of the most model Marines who in any other case would be idolized as the picture perfect war hero. Little do most civilains and of course straight Marines know of the underground network that connects the gay service members. Yes, male bonding is very much encouraged durning and after bootcamp, more so that any outsider would be shocked to learn of the excact extent we go to in order to create this bond. Any readers who truly is intersted in learning of this subculture without a voice should pick up this book for a glimpse in the lives of many Marines. This book isnt excatly for those who wish to learn of the " Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy or it's ongoing legislation. It's also very ironic to note that nearly a year after reading the novel and far after my seemingly past life as a scared and confused high schooler I had the chance encounter of meeting one of the subjects of Mr.Zeeland studies. Over the course of a few days I was able to conversate with this gentleman, who still is an active duty Marine twice my senior, and compare notes on our time and views and what we think our rolls as gay men and what society thinks they should be within the military. Ive found that not much has changed form the books publication nearly a decade ago. The US has alot to learn before it knows the truth about who is really fighting for their right to even impose this policy in us.Whew!!!....ok I'm off my soap box...So in a nutshell...buy this book.

In "The Masculine Marine: Homoeroticism in the U.S. Marine Corps," author Steven Zeeland offers a compelling alternate view of one of the United States' most revered and recognizable institutions. An "About the Author" note identifies Zeeland as a Research Associate at the Center for Research and Education in Sexuality at San Francisco State University. The heart of the book is a series of revealing interviews that Zeeland conducted with several Marines. His interviewees include both gay and straight men, and one woman Marine; he also includes both officers and enlisted men. Particularly interesting is an interview with a gay Black Navy officer who previously had been an enlisted Marine and who, at the time of the interview, was involved in an interracial relationship with a Marine corporal.

Among the many themes covered in the book are Marine tattoos, the "gays-in-the-shower" issue, Marine attitudes about physical fitness and body image, the role of women Marines in the Corps, boot camp experiences, the "selling" of the Corps through advertising, gay relationships, the "coming out" experience, defining masculinity, and the parallel between Marine self-presentation and that of drag queens. A particularly important theme is the unique reputation and mystique of the Corps; in his introduction, Zeeland notes that "Marineness is like a religion." Specific male-on-male sex practices engaged in by Marines are frankly discussed and provocatively analyzed. The book also looks at homoerotic rituals and language of the Corps. The historical backdrop for the book includes the Gulf War, U.S. intervention in Somalia, and the beginning of the Clinton presidency.

The consistently compelling text is complemented by a sixteen-page visual section which explores Marine tattoos, haircuts, physiques, and dress. There are photographs from the Athletic Model Guild and other sources. A particularly interesting part of the visual supplement is a 12-panel comic by Jerry Mills entitled "Poppers"; this ironic, richly detailed piece is essentially a complete short story in comic form.

The book is full of fascinating anecdotes and observations, both from Zeeland and his interviewees. Although Zeeland is doing a serious scholarly project, complete with end notes, he makes no pretense at scholarly detachment. He notes in his prologue that his research technique involves befriending servicemen--"sometimes in an intimate way." He is sort of like an extreme Jane Goodall, passionately connected to the objects of his study. At times his writing and interview questions struck me as too self-indulgent, but in the end he has produced a human document that is both informative and profoundly moving. The book interrogates iconography, challenges stereotypes, and gives gay Marines a space to tell their first-person stories. For a companion text, I recommend "Generation Kill," an account of Marines in the Iraq War written by embedded reporter Evan Wright. Wright documents some startling examples of Marine homoeroticism; he even quotes one Marine as saying, "Man, the Marines are so homoerotic. That's all we talk about." Like Wright, Zeeland has produced a truly remarkable contribution to Marine Corps literature.

I couldn't put this book down. As well as being good writing it's moving, touching, fascinating stuff. And horny too. Much better than the usual dreary and dishonest 'gays in the military' stuff. Genuinely interested in masculinity and homoeroticism instead of gay politics and not afraid to laugh at itself. I'd buy this book a beer any time. Hell, I might even share a foxhole with it.

The most interesting part of this book for me was the idea that Marines in many ways are in reverse drag - the uniforms, the meticulous attention to detail about image and appearance, the exaggeration of the gender-specific attributes. It all makes sense.

Zeeland does his reporting in this book both through stories he has gotten from others as well as from his own experiences. Many gay men fantasize about marines, maybe more than members of any other military branch, and probably because they are presented as the most "butch" and masculine of the military branches.

Zeeland explores the theme in this book in various ways, not only through the stories of his own interactions - he has a hands-on approach to things, so to speak - but also through psychology, sociology, and politics that are part of the subculture in the military. Underneath the don't ask - don't tell facade, there is a very busy time going on.

This is a fascinating book.

For every gay person who ever thought about going into the service but decided not too, this is probably what we missed. It really is another world. However the stories are sooo hot and even when Zeeland is not interviewing about sex the stories the marines tell are extremely interesting. Could not put it down.

I love every book Steven Zeeland has done. I have them all, I will never give them away. In fact if I had to take any books on an island or be buried with, it would be his. I just love his first hand writing about military, Marines and sailors, Hot, hot, hot!