Becoming who I am : young men on being gay

Title:

Author:

Savin-Williams, Ritch C., author.

Publication Information:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2016.

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

x, 322 pages ; 22 cm

Contents:

Anthony -- Tell our stories -- Why am I gay? -- First sexual memory -- First arousal -- Sex play -- First crush -- Who's that girl? -- Who's that boy? -- The joy of puberty -- The good, the bad, the porn -- OMG! a wet dream -- Masturbation -- First girl sex -- First boy sex -- I'm gay-probably, certainly -- Something to tell you -- Hey mom, dad, bro, sis -- Mostly gay -- First love -- He's my soul man -- Being young and gay in America -- Postscript: Anthony's return.

Summary:

Savin-Williams's manuscript traces the lives of young gay men as they negotiated the transition from their teen years into adulthood. It focuses on key developmental milestones, including first sexual memories, first crushes, coming out to friends and families, and first adult relationships. The manuscript is drawn from in-depth interviews with 41 individuals from the "millennial" generation; each was interviewed multiple times across their teenage years into their early twenties. The author investigates how their senses of self and their public identities shifted across time, how their sexuality and sexual experiences did--and did not--affect their relationships with family, friends, and peers, how they dealt with new responsibilities, etc. He also uses the stories to shed light on the findings of recent research on gay youth, teenagers, and young adults.-- Provided by publisher

Subject Term:

ISBN:

9780674971592

Document ID:

SD_ILS:2904037

Availability:

Library	Call Number	Format	Status	Item Holds
Searching... Plymouth Public Library	306.766 SAV	BOOK	Searching... Unknown	Searching... Unavailable

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Summary

Proud, happy, grateful--gay youth describe their lives in terms that would have seemed surprising a generation ago. Yet many adults, including parents, are skeptical of this sea change--coming out is supposed to involve struggle. This is the kind of thinking, say the honest, humorous young men in Ritch Savin-Williams's new book, that needs to change.

Reviews (1)

Booklist Review

Cornell professor Savin-Williams undertakes an investigation of the lives, opinions, and aspirations of young gay men. His strategy is to conduct in-depth interviews with 40 gay youth ranging in age from their teens to their early twenties. The results range from the clinical to the anecdotal, reflecting the array of differences and, as often, the commonalities impacting the lives of his subjects, who, for the most part, defy gay stereotypes. The author addresses a near-encyclopedic array of issues, ranging from first sexual memories to the joy of puberty, from pornography to coming out. Many of his findings are surprising. Despite widespread surveys to the contrary, for example, he discovers that his subjects claimed their high schools were safe places to be gay and that, for what he calls the nice generation, being gay no longer means living on the outside. Most interesting, he finds that his subjects overwhelmingly long for a soul mate with whom they can settle down, marry, and be in a monogamous relationship. One wishes them their hearts' desire.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2016 Booklist

Preface	p. vii
Anthony	p. 1
Tell Our Stories	p. 7
Why Am I Gay?	p. 17
First Sexual Memory	p. 31
First Arousal	p. 37
Sex Play	p. 45
First Crush	p. 59
Who's That Girl?	p. 65
Who's That Boy?	p. 71
The Joy of Puberty	p. 81
The Good, the Bad, the Porn	p. 97
OMG! A Wet Dream	p. 111
Masturbation	p. 115
First Girl Sex	p. 125
First Boy Sex	p. 139
I'm Gay-Probably, Certainly	p. 159
Something to Tell You	p. 175
Hey Mom, Dad, Bro, Sis	p. 191
Mostly Gay	p. 215
First Love	p. 225
He's My Soul Man	p. 251
Being Young and Gay in America	p. 263
Postscript: Anthony's Return	p. 283
Appendix: Methods	p. 297
Notes	p. 303
Acknowledgments	p. 315
Index	p. 317

Sharon Public Library

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Summary

Summary

Reviews (1)

Booklist Review

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