Macho Men in South African Gyms: The Idealization of Spornosexuality (Palgrave Studies in Masculinity, Sport and Exercise)

This book explores the experiences of self-identified heterosexual and gay men in contemporary South African gym contexts, particularly as it relates to how the intersection of spornosexual and inclusive masculinities inform their views and enactment of their masculine and sexual identities. Chapters engage with findings from an in-depth qualitative sociological exploration on issues surrounding these masculinities among men living in South Africa who engage in gym work. The author demonstrates that men, when given the opportunity to reflect on their own and the masculinity of others, acknowledge how they promote softer, kinder, disciplined, playful, and sexually agentic masculinities through their look and touch. Foreword Acknowledgments Contents Notes on Contributor List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Introducing the Hardcore Masculine Ideal: The Spornosexual Star Introduction Representing South African Men The Aim of the Book Organization of the Book Chapter 2: Research Methodology Introduction The Gym as Research Context The South African Gym and Fitness Culture at a Glance Sourcing the Idealization of Masculine Beauty Sampling Spornosexuality Talking Spornosexuality Interpreting Spornosexuality Personal Sexual Disclosure: Toward Trust, Openness and Rapport Flexing My Ethics Muscles Chapter 3: Inclusive and Orthodox Masculinities: Multiplicity Versus Reification Introduction A View from the Top: The Cultural Exaltation of the Hegemonic Man Inclusive Masculinity Theory (IMT) and Spornosexuality: Toward a Horizontal Appreciation of Masculinities He’s Not Too Big, He’s Not Too Small. He’s Just Right: What the Participants Say About Masculinity “What a Strange Question”: Reflections on Masculinity “You Know What I Mean”: Masculinity as “Typical” The Embodied Dad, Metrosexual Man, or Fuck Boy: Too Many Choices, Too Little Time Bye, Bye Beardy! Hallo Beard! When You Go to(o) Gay, Don’t Act in a Flamboyant Way: Hybrid Men and Impression Management I Won’t Flex, You Can’t Make Me: Masculinity as an “Energy” Conclusion Chapter 4: Individualization and Community Converge: The Gym as Facilitator of the Spornosexual Ideal Introduction The COVID Factor The “Look” of Muscularity: The Body as Event Gym Work and Its “Double Whammy” for Gay Men Gym Work and the Straight Man Mental, Physical and Religious Agility: Paging Superman or Clark Kent The Gym and Its Sub-cultures “I Am What I Am”: Bodybuilders as “Outliers” in the Gym Training for an Event—There’s No “I” in Team: The Powerlifter and the Importance of Community Gorillas and Divas: The Gendered Divisions in the Gym Gym Etiquette: Practical, Personal and Social Subtleties Conclusion Chapter 5: The Bigger the Muscles, the Better the Masculinity: Muscularity as Precondition for Masculinity Introduction The “Clone” Awakens Muscularity and the Changing Man: Masculinities as an Ever-Changing Constant? They “Notice Me More”: The Muscular “Looking-Glass” Self Conclusion Chapter 6: Homosociality, Homohysteria and the Gym Introduction Six Degrees of Homosocial Separation Comfort with One’s Sexual Identity The Boundary of Same-Sex Sex as Permeable Age as Antecedent to Homosociality The Levels of Homohysteria: Gay Men “Passing” Straight Men Performing Inclusive Masculinities Gay and Straight Men “Passing By” Homosocial Tactility: A Touch Is Just a Touch Spotting: Is It About Practicality or Intimacy? “Yeah Bro!”: The Bromantic Touch “A Tap on the Ass, a Squeeze of the Bum. Let’s Fast Forward to the End of This Porn Movie”: About That Sexual Touch Admiration, Inspiration and Flirtation That “Awkward” Moment: The Stolen Male Gaze Reciprocating the “Bro Nod”: Inspiration Through Admiration Verbalizing Homosocial Tactility: Complimenting Another Man Two Tales of the Locker Room Tale 1: Avoiding Straight Discomfort Tale 2: Muscular Orthodoxy Versus Muscular Adoration Conclusion Chapter 7: Sharing Spornosexual Imagery: Mediating the Sporno Ideal Through Gym Work Introduction Externalizing the Spornosexual “Fantasy”: The “Selfie” as Unashamedly Proud Those Who Post: The Benefits and Limitations of Selfies Those for Whom We Post Investigating the “Porn” in Spornosexual Sourcing Muscular Porn Putting Your “Best Body Forward”: Porn and the Depiction of Men Porn as Dualistic Fantasy: The Pros and Cons Being a Porn “Pro”: Internalizing and Externalizing Muscularity Porn as a “Con”: Trapping Men Through Fantasy Conclusion Chapter 8: Two Sides of the Same Bicep? Problematizing the “Hard–Soft” Simile Introduction Masculinities for All Seasons “I Flex. Therefore, I Am” “He’s Got the Look”: It’s All About How You Look Implications of the Findings Concluding Thoughts References Index