What I found interesting
- Although the chapter is written about a specific place and situation, I could relate to the idea that “visibility places multiple roles in the lives of persons of diverse” sexualities and genders (pg. 103) and that there is an expectation to live up to stereotypes in order to move through networks
- It relates to my game as one of the internal conflicts I experienced was this sense that the guys making noise would ask me to show myself to them – I would need to become visible and if this visibility was the wrong sort – then this might put me at risk of harm
- The article talks about “queer survival tactics” and how it has potential to be both “disempowering” and “agentic” but that overall , in the context of the article, this kind of way of being “often comes at high emotional and psychological price” (pg.109)
- I think this kind of masking / fitting in is something that I want to draw out in my game. The idea of having to play roles in order to feel / be safe when engaging with other men or systems that are policing masculinity.
Reference
Henri Myrttinen et al. (2025) Chapter 9 – Passing as a ‘hard man’ in Routledge Handbook of Masculinities, Conflict, and Peacebuilding. Taylor & Francis.