Twink

Twink is a Gender Expression term from gay subculture that embraces youthful male appearance or effeminacy.

Twinks are typically and traditionally associated with a few key tropes, those tropes being general physical attractiveness, a slim build, a man who is in his late teens or twenties, and a youthful appearance that lacks facial hair and often body hair as well. In his book Never Enough (2007), Joe McGinniss describes a court case in which twink was defined as "a gay slang term used to denote an attractive, boyish-looking gay man between the ages of 18 and 23, slender ectomorph and with little or no body hair, often blond, often but not necessarily Caucasian."

Etymology

The origins of the term twink are disputed.

One possibility is that the term originates from twank, an older British gay slang term which means "the quarry of a homosexual prostitute (male); a man willing and ready to become any dominant man's 'partner'". This would date the term back to the 1920-30s.

Another possible origin of the term may be derived from Twinkie, an American snack cake. The food is described as "little nutritional value, sweet to the taste, and creme-filled"; by comparison, the young men are described as "short, and blond, and full of creme". Cream is a well-known food-related euphemistic terms for semen. Wiktionary lists this as the official etymology. This dates the term back to 1963.

Oxford Dictionaries claims twink originates from the 1950s and is related to the word twinkle.

Controversy

Due to its suspected origins, the term has been accused of being ageist and racist.

Perceptions and discrimination

The twink stereotype has been criticized for its homogenous descriptions, usually bringing to mind thin, white, able-bodied, blond-haired young men. As with many terms, modern usage has broadened the term to include more diverse parts of the community.

Twinks are often common targets of homophobia due to closely meeting gay stereotypes. They also tend to be sexualized in media.

Gallery

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  Twink flag by colajimmycola
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  Twink alt flag
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  Twink flag by VirxSkh0lstun_Flagz
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  Sissy twink flag by caeliangel
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  Metwink flag by neopronouns
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  Twinkby flag by bentonthefoxkin
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  Twink flag by neopronouns
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  Genderqueer twink flag by DanDaManatee
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  Non-binary twink flag by vampsting
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  Non-binary twink flag by VirxSkh0lstun_Flagz
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  Trans twink flag by VirxSkh0lstun_Flagz
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  Trans twink flag by soda-pops
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  Alternate twink flag
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  Twink flag by bloodied moonlight

See also

• Bear
• Twinkette
• Twinkgender
• Rosboy
• Femboy

References

This page uses Creative Commons licensed content from LGBTQIA+ Wiki (view authors).

This article uses Creative Commons licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).