Erotic habitus and collapsed masculinity in male-dominated spaces: The case of the no Fap relapse spaces

Abstract

This paper examines how men in online discourses are constrained by sexual ideals, and use curated discourses in an effort to empower their social selves. Drawing from Adam Green’s work, we speculate that an erotic habitus surrounding sexual ideas allows men who see themselves besieged by porn and masturbation addiction to craft specific male-oriented language. In this paper, we demonstrate how men operationalize this erotic habitus through discursive behaviors. We use thematic analysis to analyze the forum posts of men in the No Fap community, a worldwide association of men who have sworn off masturbation (n = 610). Particularly, we consider how the men articulate an antagonistic relationship with online pornography, and use an erotic habitus framed in language to note their reaction to perceived adversaries and their own strength to remain abstinent, devoid of humor, or sarcasm. These discourses have underlying elements of a muted relationship with patriarchal ideals, consistent with a collapsed masculinity. However, through the erasure of topics from these conversations, a heterosexist and women-absent conversation still implies a male-centric power.