misconception about gay men active/passive split A belief prevalent in some societies (and especially prevalent historically) which characterize homosexuality according to heteronormative power structures. "Active" in this case refers to the person penetrating (sometimes called a 'top') and "passive" refers to the person being penetrated (sometimes called a 'bottom'). The concept of this split is connected to late 19th and early 20th century attitudes which defined homosexuality as a reversal of gender roles, in which being penetrated was considered "feminine" (passive) and penetrating was considered "masculine" (active). active-passive split Definitions (Lesbian Handbook) Cassell's Queer Companion: A Dictionary of Lesbian and Gay Life and Culture