Are western men afraid of wearing brief style underwear?

[web-shooter4]

I don’t know any straight guys in the US who wear briefs, as older teenagers or adults at least. I’m sure some do, but it’s uncommon.

I grew up wearing briefs and wore them until high school, then the trend seemed to switch to boxer briefs which is what I’ve been wearing since then. That seems to be what most younger guys regardless of sexuality wear in the US at least.

I see lots of guys regularly in gym locker rooms and I’d say 90% of guys aged 16-35 are wearing boxer briefs or trunks, often something like Calvin Klein or Nike or Hanes.

 

[dan123]

Great topic!

Growing up in the UK in the 90s and 00s I experienced and observed the following: Nearly all boys wore briefs, but at the age of 13/14 it was common to switch to loose boxers and the general feeling I got was that almost a rite of passage: Boys wear briefs, men wear boxers. I didn't have many classmates who chose out their own, better-fitting boxer briefs. Those who did were sporty and/or metrosexual from a younger age. Designer underwear was a still somewhat out of reach – I used to look at the packaging in department stores.

I've since lived in Germany, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and now in Austria and have heard similar general perspectives (although a big difference in general swimwear tastes compared to the UK). However, I don't wish to generalise.

I think since then there has been a fashion shift, as men regardless of sexuality have become more demanding with their undies. A lot of men seem to be going for trunks and boxer briefs, at least that's what I observe in locker rooms. I have recently been trying to find classic plaid or striped boxers, but haven't been able to find any. Designer and/or higher-quality trunks and boxer briefs are readily available and well-marketed.

I do think there is something of an aversion to briefs and I think it still can often be coded with regards to sexuality. I have even had comments from male friends and on apps, i.e. that briefs are considered effeminate by some, also within the community (example, something like "I wouldn't be seen dead in those").

 

[Raybo Revoy]

I never noticed that nd I've been around a while. Most guys I saw in locker rooms, public changing rooms, etc. wore briefs.

 

[23873261]

Do you mean "Western" as in "Western" culture: Europe, USA, Canada? Or do you mean Western part of the American continent as opposed, say, to the east coast of the state or Canada?

i meant western culture..

 

[23873261]

I think fashion is changing more toward briefs again and it can take a while for something to be "cool" again.

Other things:

- Briefs are assumed to be feminine by some people.
- They show off your legs, ass, penis, so they catch more attention. Some consider it to be embarrassing to be seen in your briefs over longer underwear because of the exposure element.
- Some think they're associated with LGBTQ culture, and especially in grades 6-12 kids don't want anyone to question their sexuality.

It can also be the opposite. In the 70s, briefs were the mainstream underwear among younger guys and so guys may have worn them even if they liked boxers instead to avoid getting teased about "grandpa underwear."

that's exactly i wanted to ask that why briefs are associated with being gay or feminine in today's age? if a woman wears bikini or longer underwears, she is not considered masculine or feminine based on the length of the underwear. that's exactly i wanted to ask how come in today's age of liberty, & equality, men are judged based on their underwears.. i agree with your comment about people wearing boxers earlier being teased for wearing "grandpa's underwear" but that's different from being judged as being gay if someone wears briefs that and also being disliked sometimes...how come men's underwear is linked with sexuality but women's not in today's world of equality? secondly, brief type underwear are still common in professional sports like swimming, etc.. so it doesn't make sense to me somehow..

 

[23873261]

I never noticed that nd I've been around a while. Most guys I saw in locker rooms, public changing rooms, etc. wore briefs.

okay, interesting

 

[23873261]

Great topic!

Growing up in the UK in the 90s and 00s I experienced and observed the following: Nearly all boys wore briefs, but at the age of 13/14 it was common to switch to loose boxers and the general feeling I got was that almost a rite of passage: Boys wear briefs, men wear boxers. I didn't have many classmates who chose out their own, better-fitting boxer briefs. Those who did were sporty and/or metrosexual from a younger age. Designer underwear was a still somewhat out of reach – I used to look at the packaging in department stores.

I've since lived in Germany, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and now in Austria and have heard similar general perspectives (although a big difference in general swimwear tastes compared to the UK). However, I don't wish to generalise.

I think since then there has been a fashion shift, as men regardless of sexuality have become more demanding with their undies. A lot of men seem to be going for trunks and boxer briefs, at least that's what I observe in locker rooms. I have recently been trying to find classic plaid or striped boxers, but haven't been able to find any. Designer and/or higher-quality trunks and boxer briefs are readily available and well-marketed.

I do think there is something of an aversion to briefs and I think it still can often be coded with regards to sexuality. I have even had comments from male friends and on apps, i.e. that briefs are considered effeminate by some, also within the community (example, something like "I wouldn't be seen dead in those").

thanks for the answer, and regarding your comment that "briefs are considered effeminate" by some, it somehow points in a direction that showing skin is only okay for women, however, historically speaking, women used to cover up much more than men...so, its a bit surprising that showing off skin is related to effeminate, what do u think?

 

[dan123]

thanks for the answer, and regarding your comment that "briefs are considered effeminate" by some, it somehow points in a direction that showing skin is only okay for women, however, historically speaking, women used to cover up much more than men...so, its a bit surprising that showing off skin is related to effeminate, what do u think?

I think there are probably quite a few strands to this issue: Gender expectations and coding, LGBT, marketing and trends. If I look at it in terms of trends from the past few decades in some parts of the world, I would say the opposite almost. More revealing/body-hugging
underwear was – in my youth – the domain of women and marketed as such. I remember seeing mens' tangas and the like in mainstream catalogues, but this was rather sexualised; erotic bedroom wear, but not everyday wear for a man.

I think this can be well-compared to perceptions of swimwear, at least from my experience in the UK. A speedo is still somewhat categorised to be favoured by sportsmen, queer men or men who are at least very confident. I think the "Will I look good in this?" factor is also one to count, and that question is shaped by both trends and peers.

One more anecdote from a profile I saw on Scruff (from a man from Continental Europe): Alongside a "masc4masc" hashtag, he had written something like: "I like real men – don't want to see Aussiebums!", i.e. as if wearing playful, tighter underwear would somehow not be 'masculine'.

I do think in general, however, that the availability and marketing of mens' underwear has diversified in the aforementioned regions and there must be plenty who buck the trends and perceptions. And for some, perhaps it's harder to do so – or even not something they pay much mind to.

 

[Raybo Revoy]

okay, interesting

But I am old and am not in those places anymore so things change. I like boxer briefs now and those weren't around back in the day.

 

[Longwood8]

Being in my 20s and living in the US, I can tell you if you are wearing briefs it is seen as gay, unless you are older and of the briefs generations, which I guess I'd say lasted until the 1980s. I know people who grew up in the 90s and they said fashion was to wear boxers.

Growing up and even now why briefs are considered gay is because your bulge is more prominent and you are also showing more skin, therefore wanting attention on your junk. That is also why speedos are not a thing in the US.
Guys still growing up and guys in my age range like boxerbriefs as their legs are covered and tend not to make the bulge the focal point of your underwear, since they do not cup your junk as much as briefs do. I know boxerbriefs do show bulge, but briefs really show off your bulge more and cup your balls. This is also why jockstraps are seen as gay, especally since your butt is open in the back. Compression is the style for being active because it keeps things in place and your junk is smoothed out not to be seen as much.

Basically bulge and showing skin is gay. Covering up is straight. I like to freeball cause it is comfortable and don't care my junk is noticed, but I do wear boxerbriefs at times, since that is my age range's style.

***No offense to anyone, just giving my generation's thoughts on it. Of course, this thinking doesn't speak for everyone in my generation, including me, since I grew up with nudity being open and no shame in your junk being seen. My dad was born in Europe and I grew up with more open attitudes towards sex and nudity.

 

[heinz.friedrich]

should define his sexuality especially in the western world which is big on liberalism? thoughts?

You have a wrong perception of West/East etc. They are not really so different. You would not even recognize people that are raised under Communism, they have often similar ways of thinking. The difference is just the government (Angela Merkel for example was raised under Communism).

The style that you wear depends on the culture, in my opinion. I give the example of the free-body culture (Freikörperkultur).
Freikörperkultur - Wikipedia

That was developed in a monarchy than practiced in a republic and later under Communism. Is this now liberal or Communist or autocratic?

 

[23873261]

Being in my 20s and living in the US, I can tell you if you are wearing briefs it is seen as gay, unless you are older and of the briefs generations, which I guess I'd say lasted until the 1980s. I know people who grew up in the 90s and they said fashion was to wear boxers.

Growing up and even now why briefs are considered gay is because your bulge is more prominent and you are also showing more skin, therefore wanting attention on your junk. That is also why speedos are not a thing in the US.
Guys still growing up and guys in my age range like boxerbriefs as their legs are covered and tend not to make the bulge the focal point of your underwear, since they do not cup your junk as much as briefs do. I know boxerbriefs do show bulge, but briefs really show off your bulge more and cup your balls. This is also why jockstraps are seen as gay, especally since your butt is open in the back. Compression is the style for being active because it keeps things in place and your junk is smoothed out not to be seen as much.

Basically bulge and showing skin is gay. Covering up is straight. I like to freeball cause it is comfortable and don't care my junk is noticed, but I do wear boxerbriefs at times, since that is my age range's style.

***No offense to anyone, just giving my generation's thoughts on it. Of course, this thinking doesn't speak for everyone in my generation, including me, since I grew up with nudity being open and no shame in your junk being seen. My dad was born in Europe and I grew up with more open attitudes towards sex and nudity.

thanks a lot man for your detailed answers and sharing your thoughts and that's exactly what I think most (95%) people in North America think these days.. I have gotten numerous weird looks if people even see me in my briefs in the change room, or even if there's an advertisement showing men in briefs, they behave differently... but now i have a question, how come in today's world where everyone is free to do anything without being judged, how come showing more skin is associated with being gay for men, but this rule doesn't apply for women.. i mean whether women wear a bikini/thong swimsuit which shows more skin, it is not regarded as being lesbian, and if some women wear some less revealing swimsuits, its not regarded as masculine or anything, I have observed that women wearing any type of swimsuits/underwear are totally acceptable by everyone (both men & women) and is not associated with sexuality, then how come men's underwear length is associated with sexuality, i am not able to understand the reasoning behind it. i understand your point about bulge size or bulge being shown more prominently in briefs and i agree, but it think its about the people, if people would stare a lot at others underwear, even if he is wearing a boxer or boxer briefs, they would be able to make an idea of the bulge size nonetheless. I mean people don't need to look so carefully at other briefs then. Secondly, i have seen sometimes some women's tops and bottoms at beaches are very revealing, but I have never heard from anybody that it's a sign of them being gay/lesbian or anybody raising an eyebrow. Also, if people consider men & women wearing smaller revealing underwears as exhibitionist, I can understand the reasoning behind this as this would apply to both.. but i am not able to understand how come wearing briefs is associated with gayness and boxers/boxerbriefs are associated with being straight.. i know many gays wear boxer briefs or other longer type underwears..also i know for sure that in many countries, men wearing briefs n boxer briefs are very normal and is not an indication of men's sexuality and similarly women's length of underwear is not indicative of their sexuality either...so, i am really interested in knowing what's unique rule / perception in North American culture related to men's underwear length..

 

[fuzzyis]

Having said that..............these are a bit of fun. Modeled tonight..this eve hahahaha

I have some very similar....I get good reactions when I model mine..

 

[WilliamG]

Ever since they came out with pouched briefs... I never looked back. And even more so the low rise or even bikini style for me. No bunching and perfect fit.

 

[bugler]

Sadly men who wear briefs or thongs are ridiculed as gay by the macho culture of mocking someone’s clothing. The bias also extends to women, but in a different way; they are sometimes shamed by other women for their choice of wearing revealing shorts or a thong (‘Slut!’).
What type of underwear people wear should never define their sexuality.

Growing up I wore cotton briefs and continue to wear them, although now I often wear thongs.
I have a practical reason for wearing briefs or a thong, If I wear boxers my long cock slips out the side. Tight boxers are uncomfortable. Pouch style thongs and briefs also keep things in place while working.

The new materials available now with spandex content of up to twenty percent are great!

 

[fuzzyis]

Ever since they came out with pouched briefs... I never looked back. And even more so the low rise or even bikini style for me. No bunching and perfect fit.

I couldn't agree more. I grew up wearing briefs, and didn't know what I was missing until I found pouched. And then this year to find that I could purchase and affordable pouch, tailored with a size that actually allowed some room.
The feeling is absolute bliss.

 

[ronin001]

Nothing wrong with Brief's, Certain clothing and activities work best with them

But to answer the OP, there is far less fear than an individual mans choice to buy what he likes / feels more comfortable wearing. We eventually hopefully grow up from living at home and our mothers purchasing our underwear. To eventually becoming grown up and purchasing what we ourselves like / want

If that happens not to be brief's, life goes on

 

[23873261]

I have heard from SO many people here in Canada that if a man wears briefs type underwear, then he must be gay. They give variety reasons but none of them make sense to me and I personally do not believe at all that only gay people wear briefs or a man wearing briefs must be gay. Imo different people wear different styles of underwear depending on their like & comfort (boxer briefs/briefs/tangas/long johns, etc ) and it is totally independent of their sexuality. I can understand some people mocking someone or laughing if only one person out of 100 people wear a different type of underwear but i can't understand people associating men's underwear type with their sexuality (and they don't somehow apply this rule to women). So, i want to see if this perception of relating men's briefs with being gay only prevails in Canada/US or is it prevalent in other countries as well? I would love to hear from members of all sexualities (both in Canada and other countries) if they agree or disagree to this perception and why.

 

[Ray3]

The people saying briefs are a gay thing need to grow up, I've never heard of this before and I've lived in Africa and Europe and this way of thinking was never a thing in either region. Sounds like people across the Atlantic are bored.

 

[wolfman105]

guys here in the US seem to be swayed what is "popular". they want to fit in! How dare they go out on their own and be different. but yea some associate types of underwear as being 'gay'. go figure! ive never been the type of person influence what I wear. I wear all types of underwear...except thongs!