Blog Post #7 - Paper Proposal

I would like to write about about the stigma of homosexuality in heterosexual male bonding. This is different vastly different than the other topics I had been debating writing about. I have a few ideas about Sedaris' work that I have already formed into a fairly clear argument in my head, but the possibility of doing research and writing about one of these topics does not excite me. I think the reason I chose to write about this new topic is because it is something I do not fully understand yet, and therefore, can do research to help educate myself and expand on my ideas. If I chose one of the topics that I have a more clear argument for I would simply be looking for other sources to back up what I was saying. I fear this would not be a very beneficial process for me because I would not learn anything knew. I have chosen this topic because I think it is challenging and culturally relevant.

I have been following the news about the repeal of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Though, maybe, repeal isn't the right word because while a judge has ruled the policy unconstitutional, the military is yet to actually stop using the policy. This speaks to the two topics I want to focus my paper on. Firstly, how does the presence of a gay man affect the way straight men interact, and how does a gay man break through cultural stigmas to become "one of the guys"? Though, perhaps even this line of questioning is biased because, just as we discussed how the role of a woman in a the military may not to be become "one of the guys", who's to say the object of a gay man should be to become "one of the guys". The military provides a very interesting microcosm for how gay man affect other men around them, but I am also interested in how this relates to society as a whole. I think Sedaris' stories about growing up and, in particular, his relationship with his father and brother will provide insight into this topic.

I realize at this point my argument may not be as fleshed out as it should be. I have really posed a question to myself that I do not know currently how to answer. I could have taken the easy way out and chosen a topic I could more easily write about, but out of some new academic bravado, I have decided challenge myself. Writing this paper will force me to question many of my own preconceived ideas about gay culture, and I hope make me a better, more tolerant person. I apologize if my proposal is not up to the standards it should be, but I feel the line of questioning I am currently thinking about will lead me a stronger final paper than if I just wrote about a topic I feel I already have a handle on.