Thus, this exploratory study sought to appraise what gay men in the U.S. associate with masculinity and femininity among gay men and how they feel masculine ideals affect them. Masculinity and femininity are descriptors commonly used in everyday language. These terms are often associated with physical and biological differences between men and women (e.g., body shape and size Lippa, 1983, 2005).
However, most of the characteristics that are associated with masculinity and femininity are socially constructed.
