"It's a gay thing"

In Gendered Media: Women, Men, and Identity Politics, Karen Ross explores advertising and its effects on societal perceptions regarding beauty. In chapter two, The Body in Question, Ross discusses the ways in which women, men, and those of various races are affected by advertising campaigns and how many of us in turn judge ourselves, often comparing ourselves to these unrealistic standards of beauty and attractiveness.

When reading the chapter, I was surprised that Ross had not included a section on the ways in which advertising effects the gay community, particular among males. After all, Out Magazine and Logo (before they stopped appealing to gay audiences) feature gay males that are presented a certain way- tall, white, and fit, with perfectly whitened, straight teeth and tailored clothes. There have also been statistics and data that suggest that gay males are often negatively influenced by such advertising, often feeling pressured to look a certain way and fit into the ideal “gay male” body type.  

Faraz, my best friend since childhood, brings this up on an almost weekly basis. Nearly any time we go to a social scene or event where other gay males will be, he makes insecure comments about his body, noting that he doesn’t have “that look” that is commonly desired. These comments are usually followed by remarks such as “You wouldn’t get it, it’s a gay thing.” But I do get it- it's the same thing that influences and affects us all (or at least the majority of us), as seen in Ross' book.