This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Yamanashi Leib, A. Articles by Bulman, R. C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Choreography of Gender: Masculinity, Femininity, and the Complex Dance of Identity in the Ballroom

St. Mary's College of California

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ayamanas{at}stmarys-ca.edu.

	Abstract

The popularity of ballroom dance has ebbed and flowed over the years. In this article we argue that the attitude Americans have toward ballroom dance reflects society’s acceptance and rejection of different expressions of femininity and masculinity. Although ballroom dance is predicated on rigid gender roles, its popularity has increased in the United States over the past few years. We use in-depth interviews and participant observation to explore how modern ballroom dancers express their masculinity and femininity on and off the dance floor. We find that men and women construct complex gender identities that are both traditional and progressive. Some are creating gender identities incorporating traditional and nontraditional traits. Our interviewees reinforced this gender complexity and showed that no one is bound to one standard of masculinity or femininity. Rather, each person is free to choreograph his or her

First published on December 21, 2007
Men and Masculinities 2007, doi:10.1177/1097184X07306730


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?