WHAT IS A BEAR?      BACK HOME

The Term "Bear" has come to mean so many different things to different people, it is hard to clearly define it. "Bear" is a gay male identity label, that generally refers to a decidedly masculine man with a commanding presence and size, and quite often has natural facial and body hair.

Calling a man a "bear" is usually a term of endearment and dichotomy.

Since the introduction of teddy bears, bears have become the symbol of cute and cuddly, yet bears represent the toughness and ruggedness normally associated with hyper masculinity.

Definitions

"Bear" more often than not, represents an attitude. A sense of comfort with ones own masculinity and body that doesn't cater as much the styles and models so prevalent in most gay circles. The most common definition of a "bear" is a man who is hairy, has facial hair, and a cuddly body. However, the word "Bear" means many things to different people, even within the bear movement.

Many men who do not have one or all of these characteristics define themselves as bears, making the term a very loose one. Suffice it to say, "bear" is often defined as more of an attitude than anything else - a sense of comfort with our natural masculinity and bodies that is not slavish to the vogues of male attractiveness that is so common in gay circles and the culture at large. Bear as a gay male self-identity developed in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Bears are:

    * Honest and open, disdainful of hypocrisy and deceit.

    * Loyal to his friends, and fierce to his enemies.

    * Secure enough to laugh at himself.

    * Caring enough to cry for others.

On the other hand...

    * Those with bulky and furry bodies, but who are shallow and mean inside are NOT bears.

    * Those who are so insecure that they can only try and make themselves look good by trying to make others look bad are NOT bears.

    * Those with small minds, hard hearts, and twisted souls are NOT bears.

Bear Terms and Definitions

Cubs, Otters, Bears, Chasers and Chubs are all Bears, or rather are all members of the bear community. Not all bears are chubby or overweight, nor do all bears necessarily find other bears attractive. These terms apply to gays as well as bisexuals. Heterosexuals can identify as bears, but may be too afraid to identify with anything gay that would cause others to question their sexuality.

Bear: A gay man that generally has one or more of the following traits; a hairy chest and body, a beard, wide shoulders, husky build, beefy, more masculine. The exact definition of what a bear look like varies from person to person. A defining quality of a bear is that they do not fit into contemporary gay culture, or the stereotypical gay image.

Bear Code: A code system that describes a bears stats.

Behr: A big guy who can't grow a beard, or just doesn't grow one, but has a mustache.

Big Bear: A chubby bear/a hairy chub.

Black Bear: A bear that is black/African American.

Red Bear: A bear with HOT Red Hair

Bruin: An athletic bear with interests in contact sports.

Beef: A classic term for a 'built' guy.

Cave: A gathering place for bears to chat and hug.

Chaser: A gay man that finds big bears and/or chubbies attractive.

Cub: A younger bear, usually lacking a beard/full beard, may be shorter and/or lack other bear elements. Also refers to a younger bear that may be lacking experience and/or submissive.

Grr: Can be mean as a sign of affection, or to back off.

Koala Bear: A bear with light body blond hair.

Leather Bear: A bear who is into the leather scene, and can be found wearing all sorts of interesting looking leather clothing and accessories.

Maul: Unsolicited molestation by a bear.

Muscle Bear: A muscular bear. A bear that works out regularly.

Otter: A hairy gay man that's slender, a slender bear, a bear lacking a husky or stocky build while still retaining hairy bear features bear.

Polar Bear: An older bear who has gone gray.

Grizzly Bear: A hairy, well proportioned husky bear of a man.

Hirsute: A man that has excessive body hair to the point that it looks like a suit.

Ursine: ur.sine \'*r-.si-n\ aj [L ursinus, fr. ursus bear - more at ARCTIC] : of, relating to, or resembling a bear or the bear family (Ursidae)

Ursophile: A young smooth slender gay man that loves bears.

Ursulas: A term for lesbian/female bears.

Woof: A hot bear would be "woofy", you could woof at a hot bear. It can also be used like the term "you go girl" or "oh my god".

Wolf: A long-haired lanky bear or simply an alternative animal some men identify themselves with.