Abstract
Sociological, psychological, and public health studies document that many gay and bisexual men may self-label by their anal
penetrative role (i.e., bottom or exclusively receptive; top or exclusively insertive; or versatile, both receptive and insertive
during anal intercourse). Yet, what orients men to think of themselves as tops, bottoms or versatiles is poorly understood.
We surveyed 429 men engaging in same-sex anal intercourse to investigate the degree to which anal penetrative self-identity
was concordant with actual penetrative behavior. Additionally, the roles of masculinity and physical body traits (e.g., penis
size, muscularity, height, hairiness, and weight) were tested as correlates of anal penetrative identity and identity-behavior
concordance. Tops and bottoms showed a high degree of concordance between identity and enacted behavior; however, only half
of versatiles reported concordant identity and behavior (i.e., wanting to be versatile and actually reporting versatile behavior).
Generally, tops reported larger penises than bottoms. They also reported being comparatively more masculine than bottoms.
Versatiles fell somewhat between the tops and bottoms on these traits. Of the six independent variables, penis size and masculinity
were the only two factors to influence concordance or discordance between identity and penetrative behavior. Our study suggests
that the correlates of gay men’s sexual self-labels may depend on objective traits in addition to the subjective pleasure
associated with receptive or insertive anal intercourse.
penetrative role (i.e., bottom or exclusively receptive; top or exclusively insertive; or versatile, both receptive and insertive
during anal intercourse). Yet, what orients men to think of themselves as tops, bottoms or versatiles is poorly understood.
We surveyed 429 men engaging in same-sex anal intercourse to investigate the degree to which anal penetrative self-identity
was concordant with actual penetrative behavior. Additionally, the roles of masculinity and physical body traits (e.g., penis
size, muscularity, height, hairiness, and weight) were tested as correlates of anal penetrative identity and identity-behavior
concordance. Tops and bottoms showed a high degree of concordance between identity and enacted behavior; however, only half
of versatiles reported concordant identity and behavior (i.e., wanting to be versatile and actually reporting versatile behavior).
Generally, tops reported larger penises than bottoms. They also reported being comparatively more masculine than bottoms.
Versatiles fell somewhat between the tops and bottoms on these traits. Of the six independent variables, penis size and masculinity
were the only two factors to influence concordance or discordance between identity and penetrative behavior. Our study suggests
that the correlates of gay men’s sexual self-labels may depend on objective traits in addition to the subjective pleasure
associated with receptive or insertive anal intercourse.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-011-9754-0
- Authors
- David A. Moskowitz, Department of Communication, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, MB 2.312, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
- Trevor A. Hart, Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002