Conclusion
The conclusion overviews the main themes of the book. It also argues that we need to eliminate prejudice and expectations of heterosexuality, not shame straight men who have sex with men for having an “incorrect” identity. Criticizing them for their identity makes it seem as though individuals are the problem when in fact it is larger structural forces that shape the way people identify and act. Heterosexuality is many things at once: an identity, an institution, a way of relating to the world, and a culture. Like all cultures, it has institutions that undergird it and communities that are connected to it. Most straight men do not have sex with other men, of course. Those who do, however, show how and why many men come to identify as straight and masculine. A key conclusion is this: heterosexuality should be considered less a reflection of attractions and sexual behaviors and more an indication of the way people live. This includes belonging to certain institutions, having relationships with particular people, feeling that it is necessary to identify as straight to be masculine, and of course enjoying being part of a socially dominant group. A shorthand for all these things is “straight culture.”