“Baby, we were born this way”

Abstract

This study examines how certain U.S. gay men, who identify as fans of female vocalists, engage with the feminist ideologies found in pop diva culture and with the gay male stereotype of diva-worship. Previous studies investigated how the discourses of female empowerment are formulated in divas’ song lyrics. However, little empirical literature on gay men’s perceptions toward divas’ lyrics and personae has been explored. To bridge this gap, my research utilizes the tools of critical discourse analysis in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. Interviews were recorded from 21 gay male participants who were categorized into three age groups — 25–34, 35–45, and 45+. The data were then transcribed and uploaded to the software MAXQDA for coding. Using a combination of discourse analysis approaches, gay male subjectivity, and post-feminism, data were compared to formulate conceptual themes. The findings suggest that certain gay men deploy the discourse of diva-worshipping to move beyond a generalized fandom conversation to engage with the discussions of U.S. gender politics. The findings also indicated insightful ways of how these gay men came to their novel understandings of womanhood through the diva-worship practice while also seeking meaningful and self-empowering ways to identify with their divas and what they represent.