Grind Your Way Out: The Construction of Hegemonic Homomasculinities Among Young Hong Kong Grindr Users.

Existing literature suggests that Grindr and other similar apps manifest a pattern of social exclusion along the lines of body and gender. However, these studies are primarily conducted outside the context of Asia. Inspired by Connell's hegemonic masculinity and Duggan's homonormativity, I adopted the term "hegemonic homomasculinity" to explore the cultural hegemony at the intersection of masculinity and homosexual practices. Employing qualitative, semi-structured interviews, this study draws on 20 young Hong Kong Grindr users with diverse social backgrounds to examine the cultural hegemony within this gay online space. Through desiring muscular/athletic bodies, straight-acting men, and "healthy" sexual practices, users marginalize undesirable gay men and reproduce the cultural hegemony. Although the subordination of undesirable bodies and homomasculinities is evident in Grindr, the findings also suggest potential room for negotiation and non-conformity. Due to the emphasis on cultural politics in the establishment of Hong Kong's gay identity, neoliberalism facilitates a homomasculine ideal that is not only based on success in the realm of career, education, and family but also on a responsible body that is healthy. LGBTQ+ activists and organizations may allocate more resources to address everyday discrimination within the online gay community.