Soc. 3251W Race, Class, and Gender

While reading the news I stumbled upon an article that brings up some interesting looks at homophobia in American culture. Here, we have Anne Coulter (ultra-conservative columnist) calling John Edwards (Democratic presedential candidate) a faggot (reminds me of my playground days). I find turmoil here. Ms. Coulter seems to think that her proclamation of what she believes Mr. Edwards' sexual preference to be is a high quality insult. Makes about as much logical sense as him insulting her preference of black or green tea. Why is this an insult is the question I would like to ponder.

The problem with being a faggot is the equivalent problem with being a girl. Not so much that girls and faggots are bad people, as that they are exactly what men must fight not to be. To be one of those is to fail to abide to societies' masculine ideal. Namely, that a man should be stoic, strong, heterosexual, etc. Throughout elementary school, high school or until you grow out of it (unlike Ms. Coulter) accusing a man of failing to be a man is the best insult you can come up with. If a man does anything resembling feminity, such as wear pink, say "cute," sing soprano, or cheer for the Packers they are bound to get called a homo, fag, or sissy by their more homophobic friends. This is the angle that American society has played on faggotedness and why Anne Coulter thinks that she is actually insulting him. She is likely trying to communicate that she thinks he is a wuss or chicken in some sense but I don't really know.