The relationship between internalized homophobia and gender roles in gay men

Abstract

This study attempts to answer three questions. Is there a significant relationship between internalized homophobia and gender role in gay men? If there is a relationship, how does Gender Role Conflict moderate it? Do androgynous gay men have less internalized homophobia than gay men who are masculine, feminine, or undifferentiated? To answer these questions, 149 gay men were recruited to participate in an online survey with measures of internalized homophobia, gender role, and gender role conflict. The results suggest that there is not a significant relationship between internalized homophobia and gender roles and that gender role conflict does not mediate this relationship. In addition, androgynous gay men did not have significantly lower levels of internalized homophobia. Implications of these findings for clinicians are discussed as well as limitations to this study and future directions.