What does connell reject about the traditional gender and sex roles?
- they assume biological differences are the cause of gender differences
- Claims that culture and social structures determine gender.
- gender roles as a whole as they are vague
- difference is understood as deviation from the normative mode of masculinity
What is Connell’s main thesis about masculinity?
Masculinity takes many forms in society. As society changes so does our conception of masculinity. Each culture/society will have a masculinity, which other forms will subordinate to.
_______ masculinity is not a type but rather a way of describing the most dominant form of masculinity
hegemonic
what is today’s dominant form of masculinity? and what is an example?
white, hetrosexual, middle class,
characterised by dominance or force over subordinate forms and over women as well as use of violence and high sexuality.
“laddish” behaviour ie. excessive drinking, high sexual activity
What was the hegemonic masculinity in early 20th century?
heterosexual, respectable and domesticated middle-class male. Manliness was associated with service to the empire. Being militaristic, violent, using power and force. Warrior masculinity
definition of masculinity
• Masculinity consists of those behaviours, languages and practises, existing in specific cultural and organizational locations, which are commonly associated with males and thus culturally defined as not feminine
What can masculinity only be defined in relation to what?
feminity
What does Messner (1992) claim about when boys start playing sport
When boys start playing competitive sport, they are not just learning a game, but entering an organised institution. For example, “you throw like a girl”
How does capitalism form a hegemonic masculinity
- Male aggression, competitiveness and emotional inarticulateness are held to reflect their position in the economic system.
- Capitalism places men in a network of social relations that encourages sets of behaviour recognised as masculine.
- Socio-economic positioning profoundly impacts upon the masculine sense of self so much so that men’s identities are constructed through social structures which exist over and above any actions of the individual
what traits does Benyon (2002) associate with men and women? And how are these roles depicted?
• men typically assumed to be rational, practical and naturally aggressive and women, in contrast, are held to be expressive, nurturing and emotional (Beynon, 2002). The role model depicts men and women not as free agents but like actors following pre-scripted roles: so to ‘be a man’ is to play a certain masculine role
How does masculinity link to identity?
- socially dominant forms of being a male (masculinities) can be seen to provide an acceptable means by which boys and men may express their gender and thus their sense of identity.
- People want to achieve a sense of ‘belonging’ in the social world. People may pursue a cultural identity and thus hegemonic masculine features may be desired
why is masculinity in ‘crisis’?
- Many men remain bad at acknowledging and expressing feelings and are trapped between old-style, machismo and nurturing ‘new man-ism’ (Beynon, 2002)
- men are generally far more reluctant than women to face up to and respond to physical and psychological problems. They suffer deep depression at the loss of the breadwinner role and the status that went with it (cowards, 1999)
- men face constant ob role changes, the threat of unemployment and job related stress daily which could also threaten masculinity (1999)
Male suicide rates are at a ___ year high, which was around _____ in 2013
15 year high
4,500 in 2013
men account for what percentage of suicides in the UK
78%
what percentage of men said they felt pressure to be the main breadwinner in the family?
42%
what percentage of men believed their partner would think they are “less of a man” if they lost their job?
29%
what percentage of men felt they lacked qualities and abilities that sexual or romantic partners look for in a man
30%
name fouralternative forms of masculinity and some of their features
-black masculinity or ‘hyper-masculinity’ - link to black music sub cultures, emphasis on sexual virility and aggression, domination of women, physical violence
-metrosexualism - heterosexualism with a softer edge, link to consumerism and body culture. Urban, educated, cosmopolitan, travels a lot, wears designer clothes, he is cosmetically aware and will have cosmetic surgery.
-Gay masculinity- homosexual rather hetrosexual. Rise of this masculinity coincided with legalisation of homosexuality in 1960’s, rise of gay power/pride, consumer culture
-‘New man’- from 1980’s
is domesticated, house-husband, stays at home with family. New Man gets in touch with his feminine side, feels he can cry or show emotion in public, doesn’t like aggression, doesn’t play violent sports or spend all his time in the pub.
what reasons does Rutherford point to as to why traditional masculinity is under threat?
- Working class industries in decline, male unemployment.
- Sexual and physical violence of women less acceptable to society.
- Changing roles for men in family
- Rise of women liberation movement
- Rise of radical gay politics
