Exploring the Fag Hag Identity
Janet Starr, PhD student, university lecturer and Oz Fag Hags founder, has been studying the history and ideology of the fag hag for many years. She is currently writing a thesis on the fag hag identity in which she examines the benefits of a relationship free from the judgments of patriarchal discourse.
You can follow Janet's journey, as she researches and writes her thesis, on her blog.
JANET'S BLOG
Janet describes how she came to study the fag hag identity below.
The Epistemology of the Fag Hag
What is it that makes the relationship between gay men and straight women so unique? Why is it that women can nurture friendships that can span a lifetime with a gay man, yet find it so difficult to maintain a long term relationship with a straight man? These questions came to mind when I was adopted by the gay community of Newcastle in my flight from a society that placed more importance on the penis than the person. For three years, I shared the safety my new friends’ closet as I searched for my self – protected from the rules and regulations of hegemonic masculinity by acceptance, love and loyalty. Within the gay community I discovered a new identity as a ‘fag hag’ – a straight woman who preferred the company of gay men. I began to explore the function of this new identity and its importance to not only my journey of self discovery, but also for thousands of women across Western societies who nurture and cherish their relationships with gay men.
Historically, women have shown the need for a place where they can escape the judgments of hegemonic discourse; a space where they are able to reclaim their voice and speak for themselves. It would seem then, that these women and gay men join together in a political alliance which rebels against the notion that heterosexuality is ‘natural’. Of course, many questions still need to be answered, such as: Where does the fag hag identity come from? Why do some women become fag hags and others not? Does the fag hag identity endure all others? Or is it an identity that encompasses all others? This is my future work. My aim in undertaking this research is to introduce a new concept within identity politics that explains the benefits and cultural importance of the relationship between gay men and women. The fag hag identity had allowed me a space where I could shake off the shackles of shame awarded by hegemonic masculinity; a space where I had a voice. While there is still a lot more work to be done here, the research that I am undertaking at the moment will be a valuable addition to the relatively small amount of research information currently available.
