Researchers at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison say we may be negatively affecting the
queer community when we use our gaydar.
Gaydar requires you to use social cues and stereotypes associated with
gay men to determine a guy’s sexuality.
In an
interview with New Now Next writer Dan Avery, researcher William Cox said,
“most people think of stereotyping as inappropriate. But if you’re not calling
it ’stereotyping’—if you’re camouflaging it as ’gaydar’ — it appears to be more
socially and personally acceptable.”
Cox added an
example, “Imagine that 100% of gay men wear pink
shirts all the time, and 10% of straight men wear pink shirts all the time.
Even though all gay men wear pink shirts, there would still be twice as many
straight men wearing pink shirts.”
Now, we
appreciate Cox’s effort to erase stereotypes. But’s be honest, sometimes
they’re too accurate. We know we are guilty of relying on our stereotypes to
identify gay and bi guys, and we think out gaydar is pretty accurate. What
about you? Do you have a great gaydar?
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