Internalized Homophobia in Ocean Vuong’s on Earth we’re Briefly Gorgeous

Abstract

Homophobia is one of the most prevalent bigoted prejudices in present age. This paper aimed to study the incarnation of internalized homophobia in the character of Trevor in the novel on Earth we’re Briefly Gorgeous (2019) by Ocean Vuong. By utilizing Pollack’s argument on “boy code” and “gendered straitjacket”, it has been observed that Trevor, despite being homosexual, tried to obscure and abate any softness in him by exorbitant performance of stereotypical masculinity such as meat eating, drugs, and misogyny that checks all the parameters of “boy code” set by society. It is also explored that manifestation of internalized homophobia in Trevor is happened as a result of excessive consensual gendered straitjacketing in relation to the heteronormative masculinity. Moreover, it is concluded that reason behind toxicity of Trevor towards his homosexuality was embedded in the roots of strict performance of maleness which resulted in digastric consequences such as self-hate, not meaningful relationship with partner and death.