Jaunų bedarbių vyrų vyriškumas, (ne)pripažinimas, socialinė atskirtis.

Abstract

The article focuses on the relationship between young unemployed men’s social exclusion, recognition and gender normativity. It argues that the desire for recognition is crucial in self-construction of male subjects. In order to become “real” men, they must be recognized as effective and viable subjects defined by the norm of employment and work. According to their attitudes towards masculinity, work and family, two groups of respondents were distinguished. The first biggest group called “men of toxic normativity” was passionately attached to the norm of hegemonic masculinity that enabled them to sustain the illusion of both respectability and recognition. However, this attachment negatively affected their lives and deepened their sense of social exclusion and isolation despite the fact that the majority were university-educated and had well-developed networks of social support. The second group of the respondents called “impasse men” largely comprised of men with high school education and the experience of illegal temporary jobs did not regard work and breadwinner role as an essence of their male identity. They thought of work as merely a means of satisfying their consumer needs. Furthermore, these men did not construct any specific strategies of future employment. Paradoxically, their negligent attitude towards work and recognition enabled them to live a carefree life that resisted the overpowering norm of hegemonic masculinity and instead relied on dreaming about the uncertain future as a way of everyday survival. The research results suggest that by analyzing a complex relation between masculinity, recognition, normativity and social exclusion, it is necessary to rethink what kind of male subjects are recognized as valuable in specific social fields and how their (mis) recognition can deconstruct the established gender norms that affect men’s experiences of social exclusion and isolation.