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Jun

11

Sexual Assault Within Fraternities: The Intersection of Homophobia and Hypermasculinity

Tags: LGBTQ, masculinity
Filed Under Uncategorized | By Melissa Heald

Bros Before Hos: College Fraternities and Sexual Exploitation, by Nicholas Syrett, explores one way that extreme homophobia and hypermasculinity interact to contribute to a culture of sexual violence in many fraternities.

The article discusses both overt sexual violence, such as the gang rapes of women, and practices such as defining sex as a conquest. Both, he argues, “are the logical outcome of a culture of masculine supremacy and sexual exploitation that has made its home in some college fraternities.”

According to Syrett, as homosexuality became more visible over the years, fraternity members felt more pressure to demonstrate their heterosexuality and deflect any questions that might arise in response to the culture of male intimacy and homoerotic initiation rituals in their organizations. This, coupled with the rise of dating and the increased willingness of college women to engage in sex before marriage, meant that more fraternity men began seeking casual sex with women to uphold their masculine images. Syrett contends that, “This emphasis upon casual sex is part of a bigger problem, however. Social scientists have demonstrated that it places pressure on men who are not otherwise having sex to do so in order to save face, and this can lead to sexual assault.” The statistics back his claim up:

College fraternities—currently numbering three hundred fifty thousand undergraduate brothers with more than four million alumni—have become a haven for a masculinity that takes sexual conquest as one of its defining characteristics. Indeed, the social science literature of the past three decades has shown that fraternity men are more likely than their nonaffiliated classmates to rape women, and some studies have estimated that as many as 70 to 90 percent of reported campus gang rapes are committed by members of fraternities. This makes fraternities a dangerous place for the women who frequent their houses and attend their parties. In their sexist logic—and in their own words—“Brothers Over Babes” or “Bros Before Hos.” [Emphasis mine]

Read the whole article for an interesting perspective on sexual assault within fraternities and how frat culture has evolved over the past century. The author, Nicholas L. Syrett, is an assistant professor of history at the University of Northern Colorado where he teaches classes on women, gender, and sexuality in U.S. history and wrote a book titled The Company He Keeps: A History of White College Fraternities.

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One Response to “Sexual Assault Within Fraternities: The Intersection of Homophobia and Hypermasculinity”

slm on June 13th, 2009 4:37 pm

It was the late 60’s & 70’s when I saw how unsafe it could be . as a high school girl from the 9th – 12 th I was allowed eve if I was too young . Simply because the boy was popular Their was U of hous / even U of Texas crazy setting for a young girl No rules .not tempted to drink ,do drugs or even sex as you know there were plenty of opotunties .I managed with flirtaious, pure luck . I loved the live music ,dancing being with college guys I was the envy fo other girls .. In college @ SWTU it was the party capital of texas .. wild ,crazy .. It was a very unsafe setting .. I found I did not want to be there .. One of the lifesavers I am sure was I did not drink,do drugs .I would think a guy was great only to find him drunck or ? something He became a different person , he was encourged by other guys .. have not idea how many girls are raped ,I feel the # would be frightening to all . I applaud Taasa setting up groups in college campus to help women with support and resourses … It is why over due .. I am clueless how we break the cycle with men .. learning to respect a girl,a woman is a must today .. to protect our daughters ,grandaughter ..hoping all campuses will step up and be proactive .

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Jun

11

Sexual Assault Within Fraternities: The Intersection of Homophobia and Hypermasculinity

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