“Baby, we were born this way”

A critical discourse analysis of U.S. gay men’s discussions of diva-worship and feminism

Bibliographic Data

ID21234993
AuthorsEkkarat Ruanglertsilp (0000-0003-3707-3003, University of Groningen, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume15
Issue2
Pages200-236
Publication date2026-06-25
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Language and Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2211-3770 • E-ISSN: 2211-3789
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/jls.24017.rua
OpenAlexW7165840613
LanguageEN
References cited20

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

Conversation · Critical discourse analysis · Discourse analysis · Femininity · Ideology · Stereotype (UML) · Indian and Buddhist Studies · Music History and Culture · South Asian Cinema and Culture

Tools

Open DOI