Abstract
In recent years, the emphasis on studies of western masculinities has caused studies on local masculinities not only to be ignored but marginalised. The underrepresentation of studies relating to Asian masculinity, particularly on Malaysian men, has caused a significant gap in theorizing about Asian men in general and Malaysian men in particular. With globalization and the shift in societal expectations of gender roles, men are urged to redefine and reconstruct their contemporary identities in their personal and professional lives. Despite the growing interest in masculine studies, research concerning men, especially in the social transformation of masculinity within the contemporary society is largely absent. This study examined the perceptions and experiences of Malaysian men in their negotiation of masculinity. Drawing from in depth semi structured interviews and content analysis of survey questions, the study explores the discursive construction of new masculinity among 28 Malaysian men aged between 25-35. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was used for the analysis of interview transcripts. The study sought to investigate how new masculinity is constructed by analysing the interview discourse of the 28 respondents by paying close attention to the linguistic and lexical choices they used to describe masculine identities. This study examined whether the current notion of masculinity sustains or challenges the hegemonic concept. The findings of this study indicate that being seen as independent, competitive and a risk taker are among the important determinants of self-perceived masculinity. In some instances, traditional male identities which is linked with being dominant, muscular and being a provider are no longer considered as ultimate masculine identifications. The findings are of great importance to provide a refined and contextual understanding of how masculinity and complex male identities are constructed in contemporary society.
Highlights
Despite the upsurge of interest in men’s studies in recent years, the evolution of masculine identities of men in the East has received minimal scrutiny as opposed to the evolution of eISSN: 2550-2131 ISSN: 1675-8021 masculine identities in the West
This further shows that every single instance of linguistic choice used in the interview discourses in the process of masculine identity construction, reflect the Malaysia’s cultural and societal context in which meanings of masculinity are shaped
Whereas traditional masculinity is often associated with the act of chivalry and men’s gesture towards their female counterpart, findings in this study reveal that the majority of Malaysian men still cling to the principal
Summary
Despite the upsurge of interest in men’s studies in recent years, the evolution of masculine identities of men in the East has received minimal scrutiny as opposed to the evolution of eISSN: 2550-2131 ISSN: 1675-8021 masculine identities in the West. At the magnitude of globalization that Malaysia is undergoing today, scholars foresaw changes in identity where men are inspired to revolutionize conventional identities (Kumagai, 2013; Connell, 2005), where socio cultural changes tend to weaken stereotypes, influence expectations as well as impact men’s perception of identity, gender roles and normative values (Low, 2009; Khalaf, Wah, Ghorbani & Khoei, 2013) It is in this sense that the question of how the changing era and social transformation inflict crisis to modern men in defining the new ideals becomes one of the emerging issues to be explored. Given rapid transformation of Malaysia, it is interesting to explore the development of the nation’s masculine subject, in terms of how men cope with social and cultural changes
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