Premium Essay

Hegemonic Masculinity

In:

Submitted By amyrita
Words 516
Pages 3
Hegemonic masculinity is the ideal form of masculinity. According to R.W Connell and James Messeschmidt the concept hegemonic masculinity requires comprehensive re-examination (Connell and Messeschmidt, p.830) because hegemonic masculinity as a concept does not refer to all men. To speak of masculinities is to speak about gender relations. Masculinities concern the position of men in a gender order in terms of hierarchy. Hegemonic masculinity serves not to empower men but celebrates a particular form of masculinity exalted by the most privileged in society. Conell and Messeschmidt suggest that there is a gender hierarchy amongst men in which particular groups of men are considered in subordination to others. The authours concept of hegemonic masculinity provides a more dynamic perspective of the existing power structures and subordination. It takes into account a wide array of sociopolitical/socioeconomic factors and cultural groups in consideration rather than approaching hegemonic masculinity in terms of binary absolutes. They also lay out the problems with granting superiority to an ideal form of masculinity which is unattainable by most men and excludes women.
Drawing on empirical research and the history of hegemonic masculinity concept, this article examines the complex ways in which hegemonic masculinity is used to legitimize the power structures put in place in a patriarchy society. In patriarchy societies, people with hegemonic masculine qualities such as white, able –bodied, assertive, heterosexual males in the middle or upper class are granted more privileges hence have more power. People of color, women, persons with disabilities and homosexuals are some of the people who become marginalized by this concept. A system of subordination, whereby all individuals are measured according to a standard of masculinity espoused by a privileged few, is

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

What Is Hegemonic Masculinity?

...This chapter speaks about gender in so many different ways including gender switching, gender inequality and homosexuality to name a few. The question we are being asked is very specific in that it is asking why wives still take their husbands names even though the tradition began as a way to show that they are the property of the man they share a name with (father or husband). Something that will help me explain this is the term hegemonic masculinity, which is defined as "the condition in which men are dominant and privileged, and the dominance and privilege is invisible (Conley 287). This means that hegemonic masculinity is so strong that it goes unnoticed by those who are being dominated. It is also a gender norm that the woman changes...

Words: 349 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Adhd and Hegemonic Masculinity.

...A Framework for Studying Caribbean Industrial Policy Author(s):Thomas Klak Economic Geography, Vol. 71, No. 3 (Jul., 1995), pp. 297-317 Published by: Clark University Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/144313 Description 1000 words The globalisation of business and the ever increasing pace of technological change present a competitiveness challenge to all countries and enterprises within them. The advent of instantaneous, worldwide communications 24 hours a day has turned the world into a single marketplace where customers can have full knowledge of competing products and services, where speed and quality of response by suppliers (as well as price) are important determinants of success. Such an intensely competitive environment makes smaller, developing countries especially vulnerable in their attempts to gain a reasonable share of world trade. For example, the Government of St Lucia has evolved an industrial policy to support the development of businesses so that they can compete effectively in the domestic, regional and wider international markets. This paper argues that further aggressive stimulation of the economy is necessary for these middle American countries to survive. The Caribbean is establishing a technology and innovation nexus, the 'Caribbean Technology and Innovation Park', to be a major driver of economic growth through the establishment of technology-based enterprises, and increased technology transfer and development. It will be beautifully...

Words: 850 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Violence Against Women

...A)Violence against Women -Wrestling with manhood -Violence is connected to manhood (real men invite confrontation, trash talk) -Fear and respect go hand in hand -Bark like a dog (subordination of women is part of the “man” package) -Comparison to women as a challenging idea (you are a “bitch”) -Chyna becomes so strong, she is stripped of femininity (later rejects public image) -violence as “deserved,” even really crazy awful sexual violence (“bark like a dog”) -“...it's only entertainment.” -Sex Trafficking (Trade) B)Gender, Beauty, Normalization -Wolf, beauty as a prerequisite for success for women -“girls learn that stories happen to 'beautiful' woman but don't happen to women who aren't beautiful” -beauty as a market and product -the female body as a constant -Kaw, Asian Americans (3% of pop., 6% of cosmetic surgeries), most likely ethnicity to get c. surgery -encouragement of self hatred -pressuring women to conform to standards of normality -media representation of Asians as “sleepy, dull, uninterested” -origins in facial reconstruction at WWI -now used to “fix” completely natural features -Valenti, beauty as a “shut the fuck up” tool -beauty is a distraction -women are too ugly or too pretty to be consequential/deserve public attention -Bordo, Slender Body -double bind: producer v. consumer -moral coding: fat is seen as lazy, thin as control -cultural...

Words: 1763 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Belle: Hegemonic Masculinity In Beauty And The Beast

...Belle is not wearing a bow in her ponytail, instead she is wearing a loose single braid down her back. Neither is she wearing brown ballet flats as her shoe choice, she is wearing brown boots. This is a change that shows hegemonic masculinity. This scene portrays Belle as being less feminine than the 1991 version does. A bow and ballet flats portray a sense of femininity, while a braid and boots portray a sense of masculinity. The rhetor is aiming to make a progressive move from the older version of the movie to state that not all girls roam around wearing ballet flats and bows in their hair nowadays. Between 1991 and 2017 Belle’s hobby has seemed to have been changed as well. In the 1991 Beauty and the Beast, the audience sees Belle wander around the town all day reading her beloved books and petting sheep. She...

Words: 1056 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Hegemonic Femininity And Gender Analysis

...The topic chosen to be explored the intersections of hegemonic femininity throughout the beauty standards, body modifications, the factors that weigh in their influence within the issue as well as the spectrum of how females are affected. Hegemonic femininity is more than what simply seen as feminine , it is a culture that exists basing itself on how gender should be performed by a woman throughout a standard set by males in society.Hegemonic femininity can be defined as upholding the ideal standard of ultimate femininity held throughout body modification and subordination. It is the standard that abides the preferences of men that restrict women on how they should feel, act, and additionally, how they need to look ; all to be considered a woman. Even if someone who was not born a woman, but desires to become one has to follow the principles (Connell, n.d.)....

Words: 499 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Masculinity in Hip Hop

...Masculinity in Hip Hop Introduction In their discourses on the same, Frith and McRobbie (1990) tackle the issue of sexuality in popular culture. As they tackle this issue, the authors focus specifically on the issue of masculinity as depicted in imagery, songs, videos, and concert tours. In the course of their work, Frith and McRobbie (1990: 374) observed a prevalent trend, which they referred to as ‘cock rock’ in their initial scholarly account. This was the reference to the dominant pattern of masculine chest-thumping as well as the aggressive and explicit portrayal of male sexuality. Later scholars also used the term hegemonic masculinity to sustain this viewpoint. Besides hegemonic masculinity, Frith and McRobbie (1990: 375) identify ‘the soft sentimentalist’ as another form of masculine sexuality, essentially a subtle evolution of the former. Sentimental masculinity appeals more to female vanity and the need for affection. The sentimentalist is charismatic and charming full of sensual flirtation aimed at luring the superficial audience. Critical observation indicates that both forms of masculine sexuality are still present in the world of Hip Hop today. In a detailed overview on the same, this paper tackles the issue of hegemonic and sentimental masculinity as evidenced in the world of Hip Hop today and the pervasive trend of aggression and sexuality in popular culture. Sexuality in Popular Culture The issue of sexuality continues to dominate the world of popular...

Words: 2101 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

This Is It

...Ashley Sanchez SOC325 Gender and Masculinities A. Lobo 7 February 2015 Journal Entry #2 In today’s reading masculinity was discussed and deciphered. To understand the ideals and beliefs connected to masculinity, Connell starts by explaining the history of the male gender. By first acknowledging that men were considered the bold hunters at the beginning of time, to then recognizing conventional middle class men as the breadwinners, hyper-male attributes that are attached to masculinity can be further understood. Thus, social roles play a significant part in motivating such stereotypes and concepts. Hegemonic masculinity, argued as the most common, also enables men to disregard their complexities and accept such expectations. This hegemony enables a division of labor, resulting in contrasting power relations between females and males. However, recognizing that femininity and masculinity are not just simple opposites further proves the notion that there is no pattern within masculinity. Connell provides extensive research and debates that offer evidence of men experiencing conflicting ideals and principles during their adulthood, as well as different cultures and their diverse ideals of masculinity. I particularly enjoyed the debates brought by the feminist theorists and the gay community. These critical comparisons enabled us to further comprehend masculinity concepts and flawed ideas, such as those brought forward by pop psychologists, who only offered simplified views...

Words: 305 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Honesty

...Gender Differences in Perception of Masculinity in Men’s Crying I. INTRODUCTION Masculinity means being inexpressive and unemotional. Men are not expected to cry, to be sad or to be vulnerable (Forisha, 1978). According to the traditional stereotype being masculine means being assertive, being interested in things, rather than people, being analytical and manipulative, and being able to “get things done” (Forisha, 1978) Femininity and masculinity or one's gender identity refers to the degree to which persons see themselves as masculine given what it means to be a man or woman in society. (Burke, Stets and Pirog-Good 1988; Spence 1985) A person with a more masculine identity should act more masculine, that is, engage in behaviors whose meanings are more masculine such as behaving in a more dominant, competitive, and autonomous manner (Ashmore, Del Boca, and Wohlers 1986). Men are more likely than women to feel ashamed of crying. There are variations in degree, but this indicates that social norms restricting male crying may be pretty much universal. Male crying being generally discouraged from an early age, while female crying is accepted or even rewarded (Fox, 2004). Men cry less frequently and intensely than women, and this sex difference is especially marked for crying in response to anger. (Santiago-Menez & Campbelle, February, 2013) The history of men crying, men have always cried. Yet the acceptability of male crying has varied across...

Words: 3268 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Defining Masculinity Essay

...Defining Masculinity Masculinity is what it means to be a man which I think is not such a simple thing” (Grey Beyer) Being a man or a woman is the biological sex of a person, it is a descriptive biological concept. It is a physical and bodily nature but being masculine or feminine includes a mix of behaviours, characteristics and beliefs. Our society usually associates masculine traits with a boy or man and feminine traits with a girl or woman. Our cultures teaches men and women to be completely the opposite of each other. Pezzote (2008) tries to explains that when people refer what a ‘real man’ is in the everyday sense they actually combine four things together. • Biological sex ( Male and female reproductive organs) • Gender expression (How gender is expressed whether as masculine or feminine) • Gender identity ( The inner sense of being a man or woman) • Sexual orientation ( Straight or gay) When we combine these four categories it creates the perception that a biological male, masculine and hetereosexual and who identifies himself as a man is the norm to which all the other types of men should aim. Different types of masculinities Just like in societies...

Words: 591 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Sociology of Gender

...Sociology of Gender Gender is defined as the social distinctions between masculinity and femininity. People often use the terms gender and sex interchangeably. The former is defined above, whereas the latter is defined as a determination of male or female on the basis of a set of socially agreed-upon biological criteria. Music Videos such as Stupid Girls and If I Were A Boy by singers Pink and Beyonce respectively demonstrate clearly the assumptions or categorizations we evoke simply by using the terms girl or boy. Although the topic of gender in sociology is vast, this paper focuses on how gender is reproduced and how the gendered body is displayed in society. There are three ways in which gender is reproduced in society. It is reproduced through the family, education and the media. From birth begins gendered expectations. According to the social norm, the color pink is mainly associated as a feminine color and the color blue masculine. Family and friends who go to see the birth of a baby girl fill the hospital room with pink balloons, teddy bears with pink ribbons and if a boy was born the room would be filled with presents which are blue in color. Growing up, girls receive presents such dollhouses and kitchen sets which reinforce their femininity. Parents raise their boys and girls differently. Even though research shows that boys at an early age (around 2 years) are just as interested in playing with the same toys girls play...

Words: 1407 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Explain How Theories of Masculinity Have Transformed the Sociology of the Family?

...Explain how theories of masculinity have transformed the sociology of the family? Finbarr Lawton, University College Cork, Department of Sociology. Student Number: 111310236, Module title/code: Sociology of Family, SC2026, Module Coordinator: Linda Connolly Submission Date: 14/1/13 Throughout my essay I will attempt to look at different theories of masculinity and try to show how these theories have transformed the sociology of family in recent decades. I will start by looking at the sociology of family, giving a brief insight into the main theory’s and how it helps us to understand what the sociology of family is essentially about. Following on from this I will look at masculinity giving the main ideas of it and how it has changed and shifted roles in past decades. Before going into detail about masculinity and how it has changed by looking at theories of fatherhood, work, and unemployment and Hegemonic masculinity. Finally I will finish by looking at the main advantages and disadvantages of this change in masculinity in recent decades looking also at how it has changed the sociology of family. When looking at the sociology of family we see that it is an extremely broad field of study and can really be split into four main theories of which to look at the sociology of family, these being: 1. “Functionalist theory: Looks at the essential tasks provided by the family e.g. Socialisation: Regulation of sexual activity. Social placement: Material and emotional...

Words: 2781 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

The Road Not Taken

...2. Men's Language (Excerpted from The Men's Bibliography: A comprehensive bibliography of writing on men, masculinities, gender, and sexualities, compiled by Michael Flood. 19th edition, 2008. Home URL: http://mensbiblio.xyonline.net/) a) Men and Language Note: Works on boys, literacy and language in education are listed under "Growing up Male" above. Coates, Jennifer. (2003). Men Talk: Stories in the making of masculinities. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers. 1. ‘We was Playing Naked Football the Other Night’: Introduction. 2. ‘Good Story!’: The Formal Characteristics of Male Narrative. 3. ‘So I Thought ‘Bollocks to it’: Men, Stories and Masculinities. 4. ‘Bad as My Mate’: Stories in Sequence. 5. ‘She’d Made Sardines in Aspic’: Women’s Stories, Men’s Stories and the Construction of Gender. 6. ‘I’m Quite Good at Mexican Food’: Men’s Narratives in Mixed Conversation. 7. ‘Still in Shock Weren’t You Darling’: Masculinity and the Heterosexual Couple. 8. ‘There are Problems’: Men’s Talk and Contemporary Masculinities. Cowburn, Malcolm. (2004). Men, masculinities and what men do: the relationship of critique and change (invited review essay). Sexualities, 7, 4 497-501. Edley, N. (2001a). Analysing masculinity: Interpretative repertoires, ideological dilemmas and subject positions. In M. Wetherell, S. Taylor & S. Yates. (eds.), Discourse as data: a guide for analysis (pp. 189-229). London: Sage Publications. Edley, N. (2001b). I. Conversation analysis, discursive psychology...

Words: 1278 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Achieving Society’s Prescribed Definitions of Femininity and Masculinity: Is One Harder to Accomplish Than the Other?

...Imane Rhaleb English 132-23 Mr. Scott Still 2 May 2013 Achieving Society’s Prescribed Definitions of Femininity and Masculinity: Is One Harder to Accomplish than the Other? In Marge Piercy’s “Barbie Doll” and Sharon Olds’ “Rite of Passage,” both authors discuss the roles that a female plays and the roles in that a male plays. “Barbie Doll” describes the implications and consequences of society’s definition of femininity and how the character was affected by it. Contrasting to that poem is “Rite of Passage,” which serves to portray the coming of age of a young boy into manhood, all set within the backdrop of a birthday party. While each of these poems describe the different roles in which men and women can act on, both Piercy and Olds make the point that there are pressures that come with fitting into the right character. Furthermore, both poems’ messages extend into today’s society as many young adolescents struggle with achieving the fixed notions of femininity and masculinity. Both women and girls are socialized into society’s definition of feminine behavior. The innumerable social pressures that are put onto women to be conventional to certain ways of looking and behaving are consequentially destructive. In Durham’s research, she examined and observed a group of girls’ conversations in a middle school in the southwest region of the United States. She noted that many of these young girls are influenced by what they see on magazines such as YM or Seventeen...

Words: 1905 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Varsity Blues

...only wanted to go out with him and Lance (The previous starter quarterback) because that gave her a guaranteed opportunity to get out of their small town. Belonging to the school hero also helped Darcy feel like she was better than other women were. The way Darcy gets both of the men to go out with her is by giving them the opportunity to prove to themselves that they are men, which is by letting them have sex with her. This reasserts the notion that women respect a real man, and how they show their respect to that man is by having sex with him. Mox’s girlfriend, Jules, is very similar to Darcy in the sense that she shows him how to be a real man. However, Jules’s case is different because with her, masculinity and femininity are not as black and white; Jules’s brand of masculinity involves loyalty, taking charge, being sensitive, appreciating others, and being a winner. Until Mox can handle all of those things, she will not go out with him. Jules shows women what it means to be a good woman, first, that a good woman appreciates the things listed above in a man and second, that a good woman loves her man selflessly without any ulterior motives, unlike Darcy. The two other women in this movie are Mox’s mother and his sex education teacher. Mox’s mother, Mo Moxon,...

Words: 1501 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Change Among The Gatekeepres Analysis

...R.W. Connell conveys in her article “change among the Gatekeepres” about the importance of men and boys in the fought for gender equality. She make three very important points throughout this article in regards to gender equality into the global arena. Connell fist coveys that men are the main ‘gate keepers’ to gender equality, because men in our society have access to many resources and authority that are important in social change. Also those who believe in gender equality can do a great deal in social change. Connell also discusses the diversity of masculinity in two sides. One side is ways homosexual men are mobilizing in anti discriminational campaign and in community reports to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. On the other hand we learn the conservative...

Words: 268 - Pages: 2