Professions more commonly associated with gay

WC2011

Certain professions it seems are deemed to include more gay people (men) or certainly stereotypically would be expected feature more gay males ie these would be (in general) -

Singing
Dancing
Theatre
PR
Air steward
Hairdressing
Fashion design
makeup artist

Whats the reason for this, or is there no specific reason?

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

Mackay

Fair enough with the dancing/air steward/makeup artist because they are historically female roles - there's no denying that. But, PR? I've never associated PR with homosexuality.

It's just the way of the world. I think it's better than it once was, I don't think if one of my friends said they were going to become an air steward I'd think "you bloody gay". As for the theatre - a lot of the historical theatre/dancing world is seeped in homosexuality.

Reply 2

mich32elle

It's just a stereotype that's widespread in the media, with no real evidence. There are many gay people in medicine, politics, law etc, professions that people think gay men wouldn't be into, but they never show this. It's quite sad really that most people believe this.

Reply 3

Autistic Merit

I would agree that there is a lot of stereotyping. For example, there's probably a lot more gay footballers and rugby players than we are led to believe, they just find it difficult to come out. Female footballers and rugby players, on the other hand, don't find it so hard to do so.

Reply 4

Plantagenet Crown

You missed out being fabulous.

Nah, but seriously, it's just a steretype I guess.

Reply 5

WC2011

Original post by mich32elle

i agree there are prob actually lots of gay in medicine finance law etc, but they dont really fall into the image of 'gay popular' professions and the assumption is that lots of gay men would feature in music industry, dancing, air hostessing, makeup etc- probably based on some factual basis at least. so there must be a reason

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 6

TheGameOfScience

Original post by WC2011

male nurses...

Reply 7

EmmaBxoxo

Lumberjacks :biggrin:

Reply 8

cambio wechsel

Original post by Mackay

PR? I've never associated PR with homosexuality.

perhaps they spin it.

Reply 9

geoking

The reason is because a lot of guys who do those jobs (pr wut?) are gay. Stereotypes don't appear out of thin air.

Reply 10

WC2011

Original post by TheGameOfScience

male nurses...

funnily enough i never heard that a male nurse was a stereotypically 'gay' profession

Reply 11

El Salvador

Original post by WC2011

i agree there are prob lots of gay in medicine finance law etc, but the assumption is that lots of gay men would feature in music industry, dancing, air hostessing, makeup etc- probably based on some factual basis at least. so there must be a reason

Because these professions are more accepting towards gay people.

Reply 12

geoking

Original post by EmmaBxoxo

Lumberjacks :biggrin:

uwotm8? They are about as gay as a Viking....never heard of it being a gay industry. Like the steel or rail industry.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 13

WC2011

Original post by clh_hilary

Because these professions are more accepting towards gay people.

why is music or airline industry more accepting than banking?

Reply 14

El Salvador

Original post by geoking

The reason is because a lot of guys who do those jobs (pr wut?) are gay. Stereotypes don't appear out of thin air.

The gay people in those professions are just more comfortable with showing their sissyness, that does not mean there are more gay people there.

Reply 15

mich32elle

Original post by WC2011

I think the assumption is made on the basis of what is potrayed in the media, not on any real factual basis tbh. The media only potrays the reality of only a few gay men who are into dancing etc, and never show the other side to it.

Reply 16

EmmaBxoxo

Original post by geoking

uwotm8? They are about as gay as a Viking....never heard of it being a gay industry. Like the steel or rail industry. <img src="http://oi54.tinypic.com/nzgfib.jpg">

Well they are kind of butch, so I think they're probably overcompensating. :colone:

Reply 17

Flauta

Because people seem to think that all gay guys are airheaded femmes, whereas in reality they make up a relatively small part of the gay community.

Reply 18

Stanno

Original post by WC2011

These are jobs that are typically taken by women, so perhaps it's natural that 'flamboyant' men might be more inclined towards those jobs. As people heavily stereotype gay men as being flamboyant, it appears to them that gay men predominantly have those sort of jobs.

That says nothing about whether gay men are more inclined to those jobs in general, however. So no, it doesn't really have to have a factual basis, at least not at face value.