That Man Behind the Curtain: Investigating the Sexual Online Dating Behavior of Men Who Have Sex With Men but Hide Their Same-Sex Sexual Attraction in Offline Surroundings. Issue 11 (19th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lemke, Richard; Weber, Mathias
• Is Part Of: Journal of homosexuality. Volume 64:Issue 11(2017)
• Page Start: 1561
• Page End: 1582
• Publication Date: 2017-09-19
• Subjects: Concealment -- Internet sexuality -- online dating -- online disinhibition -- self-disclosure -- sexual venues -- social networking sites -- stigma management; Homosexuality -- Periodicals; 306.766
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2016.1249735
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-8369

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigates how men who have sex with men (MSM) use chat and dating sites based on theories of stigma-related offline behavior and online self-disclosure. We hypothesize that hidden MSM (those who self-label as heterosexual or who hide their same-sex sexual attraction from family, friends, acquaintances, or a female romantic partner) differ from open MSM in how they behave on gay chat and dating sites and in offline gay venues. Drawing on a survey of 12, 002 MSM, we show that hidden MSM tend to mask their identity on gay chat and dating sites while avoiding offline gay venues. They also focus more strongly on online sexual activities (e.g., masturbating during online chats) when using gay chat and dating sites. However, they spend the same amount of time on these sites, and they use them to initiate offline sexual encounters as often and as fast as open MSM.