Many bears reject extremely large or obese chubs and do not consider them as part of their subgroup. In the gay world, chubs are a distinct subgroup within the gay male population and are often confused with bears. Here are a few subtypes of cubs: Muscle Cubs: Body size is attributable to muscular composition as opposed to body fat. While many cubs have a beard, it is not a requirement to fit this category since body hair and huskiness are the dominant features for this gay descriptor.Ĭubs are sometimes partnered with bears in passive relationships or with other cubs, and they can sometimes be considered an apprentice to a bear. Sugar Bears: Effeminate bears that are shunned by more masculine bearsįor gay men, the term cub is used to describe a younger (or younger-looking) male that is usually husky or heavier in body type and is almost always hairy. Polar Bears: Older bears with gray or white facial and body hair. There are several subtypes of bear, which include: Muscle Bears: Bears whose size comes from muscle and not from fat. That said, many bears consider themselves to be harmless and even playful. Masculinity is also a key feature of bears, and some bears are so caught up in projecting a masculine image that they shun other would-be bears who appear to be too effeminate. A fairly large protruding belly is a defining characteristic of a bear. Subgroups of wolves can be found in aging wolves, which are gay men with wolf-like features that are starting to turn a bit gray.Īnd then there are full-on silver or gray wolves, terms that describe an older wolf with gray or white facial and body hair.Ĭharacteristically, a bear is a large, possibly heavy gay man that could also be muscular. Some might also describe wolves as slimmer bears, but there is a lot of disagreement on this. They can be any age and normally have facial hair. Semi-hairy, muscular, lean, attractive, and sexually aggressive, wolves are sometimes considered as part of the larger bear community or on the bear spectrum. They’re not as massive as bears and are certainly smaller than cubs. Think of otters being somewhere between cubs and bears. This might surprise some people who typically think of otters as smooth.Īthletic but not super built, a person can be an otter regardless of age, and they are considered to be part of the larger bear community. Otters usually have smaller frames when compared to the heavier cub or bear and look a lot like what you would see in a picture of an otter, hairy.
Some otters have beards, and some do not. In the gay world, an otter is considered a thin gay male that is hairy and may or may not use a trimmer to shorten body hair.
If you have any suggestion please send us an email at H E O T T E R This is simply an attempt to offer clarity. Finally, some may disagree with these labels as there continues to be ongoing friction regarding what they mean. It is entirely possible that your group is not listed. Please note that we have not included all of the groups here and the ones that are here may have a subgroup. Much of the analysis draws upon search phrases via Google’s algorithms. Maybe you’ve even sent them a bathroom mirror selfie wanting some answers.Īfter conducting extensive research on gay body types, collecting survey opinions from gay blogs, and plugging the data into high-grade statistical analysis software, the typologies of gay male body types can now be revealed. How many times have you approached your friends and asked them, “What am I? Which group do I fall into? And what the heck is a wolf?” But many gay men often wonder what these terms actually mean. No doubt you’ve heard of some of these labels, like jock, otter, bear, cub, wolf, and so forth. Gay men often use descriptive terms to identify and label other men within the wider gay community.