The pervasiveness of the "promiscuous gay" stereotype in Singapore

• Main Author: Teo, Darren Wee Kang
• Other Authors: Genaro Castro Vazquez
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/62428
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This paper aims to understand the pervasiveness of the “promiscuous gay” stereotype in Singapore, and its impacts on the socio-legal acceptance of gays. Unlike other dominant gay stereotypes like effeminate, fashionable, or creative, being labelled “promiscuous” within a society which views the traditional nuclear family of one man, one woman, and their children as its basic unit, and where hegemonies of monogamy and heteronormativity continue to reign, can have a damming impact. State rhetoric and media portrayals have produced and reinforced the stereotype of promiscuous gay. Even if gays were never especially into casual sexual encounters with various multiple partners, the suThis paper aims to understand the pervasiveness of the “promiscuous gay” stereotype in Singapore, and its impacts on the socio-legal acceptance of gays. Unlike other dominant gay stereotypes like effeminate, fashionable, or creative, being labelled “promiscuous” within a society which views the traditional nuclear family of one man, one woman, and their children as its basic unit, and where hegemonies of monogamy and heteronormativity continue to reign, can have a damming impact. State rhetoric and media portrayals have produced and reinforced the stereotype of promiscuous gay. Even if gays were never especially into casual sexual encounters with various multiple partners, the sustained portrayals by the media and the state can lead to even gays themselves buying into the stereotype. When they end up reproducing the stereotype, they also inevitably end up reinforcing their marginalized position within society. stained portrayals by the media and the state can lead to even gays themselves buying into the stereotype. When they end up reproducing the stereotype, they also inevitably end up reinforcing their marginalized position within society.