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comment by zebra2
zebra2  ·  4484 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: A photo history of male intimacy

Makes me wonder if the more strict, old-fashioned gender roles made this kind of male affection more prominent. You'd probably be less concerned about being perceived as effeminate or gay if your masculinity were already set in stone. There's a bit of alluding towards this with regards to soldiers:

    Serving is such an unquestionably manly thing, that homophobia dissipates; soldiers care less about one’s sexuality than whether the man can get the job done.