the bear community offers a distinct sense of belonging for many gay men, particularly those who felt alienated by the prevailing ideals within the broader gay scene. for some, it bridges a perceived divide between their queer identity and their more traditional, perhaps rural or working-class, roots.
this is reflected in how many individuals who fit the "bear" aesthetic, often characterized by hairiness and a larger build, also embody a down-to-earth masculinity that can seem surprisingly compatible with conservative, rural environments.
the discourse around masculinity within the gay male community is multifaceted and often debated.
some, like Jack Malebranche in his book androphilia: a manifesto, have critiqued what they see as an overemphasis on effeminacy in gay culture, advocating for a return to more conventional forms of manliness. conversely, many queer scholars view traditional masculinity with skepticism, seeing it as potentially reactionary.
anthologies like nobody passes: rejecting the rules of gender and conformity, edited by Mattilda a. Matt Bernstein Sycamore, delve into the complexities of normative gender roles within the GLBT community, highlighting the diversity of experiences and expressions.
it's essential to recognize that the queer universe is wonderfully diverse, encompassing a wide spectrum of identities and expressions.
bears, drag queens, bull dykes, leather men, lipstick lesbians, radical faeries, and transgender individuals all contribute to this rich tapestry. solidarity among these various groups is not just advisable but crucial, especially given the unifying animosity directed towards them by groups like the Christian Right, as illuminated by Dr.
Burack in her work sin, sex, and democracy: antigay rhetoric and the Christian Right. these distinctions, however, are often fluid and beautifully blurred within the bear community itself. the burliest individuals might reveal the most tender and submissive sides in their intimate relationships, showcasing a capacity for both strength and vulnerability.
to gain a deeper understanding of how this subculture evolved, the work of writers like Les K.
Les Wright is significant. Wright, a former professor, edited extensive academic anthologies, notably the bear book: readings in the history and evolution of a gay male subculture and its sequel, the bear book ii. although many of these important resources became unavailable when Haworth Press ceased operations, their legacy continues.
since [Year of publication of Edge], which included Jeff Mann's essay collection edge: travels of an appalachian leather bear, the imprint has released several other titles, with more planned, indicating a sustained interest in this community.
members of subcultures often develop unique ways to signal their identity and foster recognition.
within the bear community, visual cues are readily adopted, often facilitated by burgeoning capitalism. merchandise, from hats and clothing to various interpretations of the bear flag (featuring a paw print and colors symbolizing fur and diverse nationalities), is widely accessible online and at bear-specific events.
these items serve as clear markers of belonging for those who wish to express their identity beyond more permanent declarations like tattoos.
the presence of bear music emerged as a revelation for the author during a trip to Nashville with his husband, John.
while initially associating Nashville with its traditional country music scene, the experience revealed a hidden queer dimension. stumbling upon "Bearapalooza," a collective of bear musicians who have been touring the U.S. since [Year], offered a glimpse into this vibrant scene.
attending their performances in a local gay bar was an immersion in an atmosphere of relaxed camaraderie, where hairy, bearded men playing quality music across genres like folk, blues, and rock and roll created what felt like "ursine heaven." the talent of musicians like Jeffrey Altergott, Kendall, and Max Christopher left a lasting impression.
further exploration led to Woobie Bear Music, particularly known for its multi-artist bear tracks compilations.
the realm of bear cinema has also seen significant development, with films ranging from overtly erotic to more serious explorations of the community's culture and identity.
documentaries such as bear run: celebrating the bear community and the butch factor, which aired on the Logo channel, have shed light on various facets of this subculture. more recent contributions include Malcolm Ingram's bear nation and the feature-length romantic comedy bear city, both of which premiered at the Newfest GLBT film festival, with a sequel to bear city already in production.
these cultural productions contribute to a sense of validation and desirability for men who might otherwise feel overlooked by mainstream gay culture's focus on youth and conventional attractiveness.
for individuals who identify with the bear movement, especially those of a certain age or from less urban backgrounds, it has provided a much-needed sanctuary.
unlike the often youth-centric narratives prevalent in gay-themed media set in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, and frequently depicted in publications like the advocate and out, the bear scene offers an alternative. it has created a vital space for heavy, hairy, working-class, rural, and butch men who might not have found a natural fit within contemporary gay life, fostering a profound sense of belonging.
the bear movement has expanded the possibilities of what is considered attractive, who is included within queer spaces, and how masculinity can be expressed.
for this significant segment of the gay male population, the creation of these inclusive environments has been deeply impactful. the author expresses profound gratitude for these "furry brothers" and acknowledges the contributions of Ron Suresha to the sections on bear literature and cinema.
Jeff Mann, the author of loving mountains, loving men and edge: travels of an appalachian leather bear, highlights the importance of community and shared identity.
reader feedback often underscores the educational value of discussions surrounding the bear community.
one commenter expressed gratitude for learning about the term "bear" through an article, relating it to conversations with their bisexual daughter. this sentiment highlights the evolving landscape of acceptance and the importance of celebrating coming-out experiences in a world that, even a few decades ago, demanded far more concealment and discretion.
the hope is that future generations will never have to experience the same level of societal pressure to hide their identities.
another reader found the article clarifying, emphasizing that the bear community functions as a subculture in response to, and often in contrast with, the larger gay community.
this subculture actively rejects the idealized, normative male beauty standards prevalent among mainstream gay men. research suggests that individuals identifying as bears are more likely to be hairier, heavier, and shorter than their non-bear counterparts, and they express a preference for partners with similar physical traits.
studies indicate that bears are less inclined to reject potential partners, and when rejections do occur, they are more often based on age or perceived low weight. furthermore, bears tend to engage in a wider array of sexual behaviors and, despite potentially lower self-esteem, do not necessarily exhibit less hypermasculinity than other gay men.
the interpretation is that bears are intensely sexual, and perhaps due to perceived limitations in attractiveness within mainstream gay culture, they develop a keenness to seek out partners who are less likely to reject them.
keywords that capture the essence of this community include "bears," "gay culture," "gay and bisexual men," "self-esteem," "masculinity," and "obesity." the gay community is fundamentally heterogeneous, composed of numerous subgroups and subcultures, all sharing a common desire for same-sex encounters.
the bear subculture is one such prominent group, characterized by a preference for a body image that may be influenced by genetics, age, or even internalized heteronormative masculine beliefs.
the bear community itself is further segmented into various classifications, primarily based on hairiness, but also incorporating factors like weight, age, and ethnicity.
these subdivisions include "grizzly bears" (white, hairy, heavier men), "cubs" (younger, hairy men), "polar bears" (older men with graying or white hair), "big teddy bears" (hairy yet heavier than grizzlies), and "otters" (hairy but thin). ethnic variations are also recognized, such as "black bears" (hairy men of color) and "panda bears" (hairy Asian or Pacific Islander men).
despite these physical distinctions, a shared identity prevails: the celebration and praise of masculinity within the community.
given the limited general research, and particularly the scarcity of quantitative studies on this community, the research explored these aspects quantitatively using internet-convenience and purposive samples.
bear culture is intricate and deeply interwoven with heteronormative and hegemonic masculine ideologies. while similarities and overlapping traits exist with other gay male subcultures, such as the leather community, key differences emerge. for instance, while leathermen may revere hypermasculinity as a trait encompassing danger, fearlessness, and sexual callousness, bears do not necessarily adopt these negative extremes.
their focus remains on partners and egalitarian relationships, maintaining masculine identity without resorting to negative hypermasculine behaviors, irrespective of a partner's size or body hairiness.
theoretical frameworks, such as social identity theory, offer explanations for how the bear identity diverged from mainstream gay male culture.
this theory suggests that groups employ social creativity strategies to differentiate themselves. it has also been observed that the intense emphasis on body image and physiological attributes, which can lead to issues like eating disorders or body dysmorphia in other gay male subcultures, might be less prevalent or expressed differently within the bear community, where these traits are often celebrated.
the bear culture also serves as a facilitator for same-sex sexual encounters.
ethnographic research suggests that bears may be more accepting and appreciative of partners who share similar characteristics—that is, partners who are heavier, hairier, and deviate from conventional ideals of male beauty. alternatively, partner selectivity might simply be more relaxed.
a similar, and arguably traditionally masculine, inclination may exist within the bear community where, as long as a male partner meets certain baseline criteria, sexual engagement can occur. furthermore, men who identify as bears may be more inclined to engage in desired sexual behaviors than those not part of the culture, potentially indicating a greater inherent interest in diverse sexual practices, some of which are associated with masculinity, and a willingness to push the boundaries of socially acceptable sexual norms.
potential health disparities may exist for certain subcultures, and these subcultural differences could inadvertently skew future research on sexuality and health.
researchers might overlook these distinctions, fail to account for them, and arrive at findings that are merely artifacts of underdeveloped or flawed initial social identity measures. it is with this concern, and in light of the limited existing research on bears, that specific hypotheses were formulated.
it was hypothesized that bears would report being shorter, hairier, less muscular, heavier, and possessing smaller erect penises compared to non-bears. further, it was predicted that bears would desire partners with similar physical characteristics (shorter, hairier, less muscular, heavier, and smaller erect penises).
the third hypothesis posited that bears would report fewer rejections of partners based on various criteria, and the fourth predicted that bears would report engaging in a greater number of diverse sexual behaviors compared to non-bears.
data for two distinct studies were gathered from a total of 2,368 men.
the structure of these studies emerged from preliminary analyses of the first, which encouraged further investigation with a second independent sample focusing on psychological variables. the first study was more exploratory, concentrating on the physical attributes, partner selection, and rejection criteria of gay men, yielding enough bear participants for analysis.
the second study was more purposive, actively recruiting bears to examine psychological variables not addressed in the first study that might be associated with their identity. both studies included gender and sexual behavior inclusion criteria, specifically soliciting participation from men who have had or currently have sex with other men.
bear identification was not a prerequisite for participation but served as a grouping variable for analysis. in the Craigslist study, a subsample of 1,306 men was analyzed. this subsample could be further segmented by location. in the second study, 1,062 men provided data.
a subsample of 100 from IML and 96 from PrideFest were analyzed. regarding a percentage breakdown of subsamples, for IML, 50% identified as bears, while at PrideFest, 55% identified as bears. a brief online survey was administered from January to March 2009 to Craigslist users globally, with English as the predominant language.
no compensation was offered. a total of 1,306 men responded. for the second study, data were collected via anonymous surveys administered at two independent gay events in May and June: the International Mr. Leatherman Competition (IML) in Chicago, Illinois, and PrideFest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
bears are known to frequent IML, particularly due to the concurrent "bear pride" event. PrideFest was chosen for its significant number of commercial and cultural bear booths, making the sampling at these locations more purposive than convenient. booths were set up, and attendees were invited to complete a 15-minute survey.
a total of 1,062 men completed the survey (1,000 from IML and 62 from PrideFest). the Craigslist study focused solely on community affiliation, while participants in both studies rated partner body attributes on a 7-point scale for height, weight, body hairiness, muscularity, and erect penis size.
these measures have been previously validated.
sexual behaviors were also defined and clarified on the survey, with distinctions made between receptive and insertive roles. receptive roles involved taking either the literal or figurative receptive position, while insertive roles involved the literal or figurative insertive position.
higher scores indicated greater self-esteem. masculinity and femininity were assessed with separate items, where men rated themselves against other men on a scale of 1 to 5. the hypermasculinity inventory consisted of forced choices between non-hypermasculine and hypermasculine responses, with averaged scores indicating a tendency towards hypermasculinity.
sample sizes varied slightly across tests due to minimal missing data. for the Craigslist study, logistic multiple regression and cross-tabulation with chi-square were employed to analyze differences between bears and non-bears regarding self- and partner-physical attributes, rejection criteria, and sexual behavior prevalence.
age was controlled across all tests in both studies. it was positively associated with being heavier. table 1 indicates that the majority of participants in both samples were white and had a fair level of education. most men identified as homosexual, with approximately one in five identifying with the bear community across both samples.
variations in sexual orientation distribution between studies did not significantly correlate with any independent or dependent variables. both samples exhibited similar mean ages and standard deviations (Craigslist sample: M=33.5, SD=9.4; IML/PrideFest sample: M=33.7, SD=9.4).
specifically, in the Craigslist sample (tables 2 and 3), men reported being above average in height, weight, and erect penis size, and below average in hairiness and muscularity. these men also expressed a preference for partners who were taller, more muscular, had larger erect penises, were less hairy, and lighter.
a majority of men reported engaging in receptive and insertive oral and anal intercourse, as well as anilingus. other notable sexual behaviors included exhibitionism (37%), group sex (25%), fisting (23%), and spanking (18%). a small minority (6%) reported experiencing sexual assault.
regarding the number of bear events attended, participants were instructed not to include IML or PrideFest. for further details on the relationships between these variables, refer to Moskowitz et al. [citation needed]. scales were used to assess masculinity, hypermasculinity, and self-esteem.
hypermasculinity showed no correlation with self-esteem or masculinity. the third hypothesis was tested using chi-square tests (table 3). bears were more likely to reject partners for being too young. they were less likely to reject individuals for being less attractive than perceived or for being heavier.
conversely, they were more likely to report never having rejected partners. for the fourth hypothesis, it was predicted that bears would report engaging in more of the 20 sexual behaviors than non-bears. less normative sexual behaviors showed some of the most significant differences.
for instance, bears were 3.5 times more likely to engage in exhibitionism and 1.9 times more likely to report engaging in group sex. due to the observed differences between bears and non-bears in the Craigslist study, three psychological constructs were explored: masculinity, hypermasculinity, and self-esteem.
it was suggested by prior qualitative research that these constructs might vary based on the maintenance of a bear identity. consequently, a final logistic regression model was constructed to test the relationship between these three variables and bear identity. the null hypothesis regarding hypermasculinity could not be rejected, with no significant findings observed.