Henderson: Broke Back Mountain

Homophobia and sexism are part of the same power construct in American society through the biases of what is considered acceptable. Sexism is the belief that one sex is superior to the other, and homophobia is all the negative feelings associated with lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals. In American society it is understood that the typical picture of power is a Caucasian and heterosexual male.

Homophobia and sexism can belong to the same power construct because they deal with issues of what is accepted and what is traditionally right in American society. Because of issues surrounding sexism a woman might be denied equal pay of the men that hold the same occupation and vice versa. This deals directly with issues surrounding sexism. Likewise because of homophobia an individual might be denied and job solely due to their sexual orientation. Both biases lead to the same construct of power about heterosexuality being superior and also male gender roles of superiority.

In the story “Brokeback Mountain” Joe Aguirre, the boss of Ennis and Jack, knew that the boys were intimate with one another after spying on them and because of it he made homophobic remarks and did not hire one of the boys for the following summer. Also when Jack tried to convince Ennis to start a business together so that they could have a place to be intimate permanently Ennis aggressively denied his request. Ennis recalled his father bringing him to view the remains of a man who had been brutally beaten for being in a homosexual relationship. Ennis said, “ They’d took a tire iron to him, spurred him up, drug him around by his dick until it pulled off, just bloody pulp.” Ennis recalled his father laughing at the entire situation. Because of the incident Ennis was afraid to stop his life with a wife and two children to start a life with Jack. Homophobia and sexism share the same negative associations in American society.