Forms Of Masculinity Research Articles

Ageing in DIY and alternative cultures: Exploring forms of masculinity and adult play in Jackass forever

This article explores ageing in alternative cultures and co-existing forms of hyper and alternative masculinity in the US film Jackass Forever released in 2022. The film is a continuation of the original Jackass show launched in 2000. Although a highly profitable franchise, we argue Jackass is part of an alternative culture through its playfulness and pranks that are also dangerous and revel in self-humiliation. Most of the stunts and skits also adopt a DIY approach and reflect forms of perceived masculine and adolescent pranking and clowning. We argue that such alternative and DIY-influenced activities allow men to keep enjoying alternative, ‘carnivalesque’ forms of adult play well into middle-age and can have a pro-social and beneficial impact across men's life course. Yet even if subversive, Jackass can still also reproduce masculine constraints, including suppressing the expression of boundaries and vulnerable emotions.

Stalking: A Crime Normalized by Bollywood

The media has become so pervasive in our lives that it is impossible to avoid the ideas and messages that are being broadcast to us, even if we make a concerted attempt. The Bollywood business is a prime illustration of this, as it pervades practically every aspect of Indians’ lives. Bollywood is the world's largest film industry in terms of the number of movies produced annually in a single nation, with 364 movies being shown each year (2017). Thousands of people flock to theatres to see Bollywood films, which are well received throughout the country. Various scenes and songs from these films leave an impression on the audience and often these can be extremely negative. In several Bollywood movies, stalking is portrayed in a very normalized manner. These movies show that stalking a person without their consent is completely okay. These negative aspects in Bollywood movies have a strong impact on all who watch them and often the act of stalking is enacted by these very people in real life scenarios which leads to the commission of an even more gruesome crime. The author of this research paper will be analysing the normalization of stalking in Bollywood movies and songs. The author will be examining the effect this normalization by Bollywood has on people’s minds. The author will also be studying the concept of masculinity, hypermasculinity that is portrayed in Bollywood movies and how it affects the perception of men about women and stalking.

Gendered sociotechnical imaginaries: Understanding the role of masculinities in Portugal's pursuit of multi-scalar solar energy transitions

Solar energy advocates increasingly draw attention to solar PV technologies as a vehicle for achieving greater local autonomy, inclusivity, and democracy. A future energy system may take many forms, but with the current system being male-dominated, and gender being a central factor in shaping societal values, we argue that ideas derived from different forms of masculine value systems are likely to be reproduced in the solar PV rollout. Thus, it is necessary to ascertain how gender co-shapes sociotechnical imaginaries that are used to legitimize different transition pathways. In this study, we draw on data from fieldworks in Portugal between 2022 and 2023, including 50 semi-structured interviews. We find that Portugal has two major and different solar-specific imaginaries, each drawing on different forms of masculinities. Simultaneously, each competing imaginary perpetuates a different set of societal expectations related to the masculinity it represents, and along with this, legitimating different sets of expectations around public accountability, gender equality, democracy, and energy justice.

EXPLORING HYBRID MASCULINITIES OF THE MALE CHARACTERS IN OKPEWHO’S THE LAST DUTY

Abstract
 This paper explores the concept of failed hegemonic masculinity to exact its full benefit from the assumed patriarchal privileges that African men ascribe to with intent of subjugating femininity. The failure of both patriarchy and masculinity to accentuate their hold unto these privileges results in a cataclysmic disfigured form of subordinated masculinities that manifest in a hybridism of masculinities. Utilizing Okpewho’s novel, The Last Duty, this paper examines how the novelist’s portraiture of the male characters in the novel reveals a bastardized patriarchy strangled to the point of suffocation; its relevance to society is seen in the infirmary of hopelessness and nothingness. The salvaging element, the paper argues, is to view the male characters through the lenses of hybrid masculinities which interpret the diverse identity projects of patriarchy in gender studies as ephemeral.

Red Badge of Courage and Jalan Tak Ada Ujung: Comparing Indonesia’s and America’s National Masculinity

Masculinity linked to conflict or war is often seen as hegemonic. This research offers two literary texts from two different countries: Stephen Crane’s The Red Badge of Courage (2005) and Muchtar Lubis’ Jalan Tak Ada Ujung (The Endless Road) (1952). By comparing and contrasting both countries in terms of non-hegemonic masculinities of the protagonist characters, the pattern of masculinities of each nation, which is often overlooked, can be explainable. We can identify variations of masculinities in classic fiction, which reflect the national discourses. By utilizing the notion of focalization, the method of narratology can locate the power relation and agency in the story. Post-war anxiety as well as the ideology of fatherism and momism constructs the national gendered discoures. Indonesia’s masculinity resists the legitimate and privileged as well as the status-quo concept of national masculinity. The resistance implies that Indonesia’s national masculinity is more diverse and progressive than America’s is.

Rethinking Masculinities: Challenging Hegemonic Norms and Embracing Diversity

This paper critically examines the conventional understanding of masculinity, emphasizing the need to transcend hegemonic norms and embrace diverse expressions of gender identity. The introduction highlights the pervasive issue of gender egalitarianism being overshadowed by a focus on women's rights, perpetuating stagnation in perceptions of masculinity. The paper proceeds to challenge the notion of an unchanging and authentic practice of masculinity, known as "the male role," exploring the impact of hegemonic masculinity on subordinated forms. Chapters delve into the complexities of the sexed body, questioning innate versus nurtured perspectives on masculinity, and highlighting the role of societal influence and social practice. The study also explores the dynamics of masculinity concerning ethnology, social class, and race, advocating for an inclusive approach that transcends biological determinism. Furthermore, the paper discusses the evolution of new thinking around masculinity, dissecting the implications of hegemonic masculinity on men's mental health and family dynamics. The concluding chapter emphasizes the dynamic nature of masculinity, urging a departure from rigid stereotypes and encouraging a more inclusive understanding shaped by self-identification and personal decision-making. Overall, the paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on gender by challenging traditional paradigms and promoting a nuanced and adaptable conceptualization of masculinity in contemporary society.

What Does Masculinity Mean?

Abstract In Germany, there has been an ongoing discussion about the boys’ crisis in education, which is linked to the call for more masculinity through male role models so as to positively influence boys. In this article, I explore the conceptions of masculinity of young people in Germany and elaborate on the influence of education and educational institutions on notions of masculinity. To do this, I focus on two in-depth case studies, a boy and a girl who are both aged 16, which I analyze using the documentary method. The cases show that education is to be understood as a gender regime that takes an active part in the production of a binary masculinity. At the same time, they also show that education has the potential to transform masculinity.

Imagining a Man “More Exactly what He Ought to Be”: Jane Austen’s Revolutionary Masculinities

Jane Austen’s canon has been expertly combed through for its moral implications, whether radically feminist or extremely conservative. Writing during the Napoleonic Wars, Austen was no stranger to politics, the military, or the implications both had on her life and her role in society. In the paper that follows, I posit that Austen channeled many of her opinions on England’s state of affairs through her male characters, who were the acting socio-political agents of the day. Through various caricatures of masculinity, Austen portrays masculine ideals and failures, both of which were rapidly evolving during her time. This research focuses on Austen’s portrayal of the “self-made man,” a form of masculinity which emerged following the American and French Revolutions, and grew to prominence in England following the Napoleonic Wars. These men quickly made places for themselves in society, particularly through the British Navy. They grew to rank and status through their own merit and skills, instead of high birth and landed title. Their increasing prominence threatened the very foundations of British society as Austen knew it. However, as this paper explores, Austen took care to present these men - and the changes they brought - in a positive light, showcasing the value in their revolutionary social movement. In the following essay, I demonstrate how, in doing so, Austen’s later novels, Mansfield Park and Persuasion, act as political tools which reveal how Austen’s opinions about England’s fragile state were revolutionary.

Popular boys, the ideal schoolboy, and blended patterns of masculinity for 10‐ to 11‐year‐olds in two London schools

AbstractGenerating data from small group interviews with 41 boys aged 10–11 years from two London schools in 2022, this paper contributes to the field of gender by introducing a new form of non‐hegemonic and positive masculinity, which I am calling ‘blended’ masculinity, and which was the most common formation in each school. Although its features differed a little in each setting, this blended formulation broadly consisted of orthodox qualities of masculinity (e.g. athleticism, assertiveness, confidence, independence), combined with feminine‐associated traits (e.g. kindness, caring, sociability, emotional literacy). I argue that this blended form is different from previous conceptualisations of hybrid masculinity in the gender literature and is more akin to recent conceptions of hybrid femininity. There were no dominant forms of masculinity with hierarchical connotations of superiority, and no hegemony that legitimated unequal relations, with obvious subordination of other masculinities or femininities. Boys and girls generally got on well with each other and there was also no evidence of homophobia or misogyny. The paper also explores notions of peer‐group popularity, which was based on a series of resources, and delineates the characteristics of a fictional, ‘ideal’, schoolboy, whose features and attributes were connected to the different versions of masculinity on show.

Misogyny and masculinities: American boys and singing in an age of gender-expansiveness

As conceptions of gender continue to evolve, many choral educators in the U.S. are questioning longstanding traditions. Conductor-teachers who lead U.S. “boychoirs” often posit that making singing masculine will help to recruit boys—relying on outdated notions of toxic masculinity. Drawing on feminist post-structuralist and trans theories, I argue for a theoretical reconceptualization in terms of how boychoirs are approached. Such a change would contribute to interrogating the discourses of U.S. “boychoirs” and “men's choirs” regarding gender-inclusive practices and can provide a blueprint for choirs wanting to become more gender-inclusive. Furthermore, such work involves reconsidering the “missing males” issue, notions of boyhood, and traditional forms of masculinity which position boys as susceptible to toxic masculinity.

The Representation of Toxic Masculinity in the "Do Revenge" Movie

Toxic masculinity is a social condition created by society in which men can't express their feelings, and they shouldn't cry and be weak otherwise, they will be violating the norm, that's because they can't express their feelings; they use violence, emphasizes power, discrimination against gender in general. Netflix's movie entitled Do Revenge present an american teenager with some problems in their life, and it presents the character that represents the behavior of toxic masculinity named Max Broussard. This study used the theory of toxic masculinity by Kupers (2001) to identify how Max's character represents toxic masculinity in the movie. The qualitative method with a case study approach was the primary methodology of this research. The researcher gathered the data by watching the movie, reviewing earlier studies, and concentrating on the language and the scene that addressed either direct or indirect toxic masculinity issues. Previous research has not specifically classified various forms of toxic masculinity, such as misogyny, greed, homophobia, and violent domination, within the context of character behavior in the movie. Therefore, the novelty of this research lies in the more detailed classification of the forms of toxic masculinity that emerge in the character of Max in the movie "Do Revenge". The results of the study showed that the character represents toxic masculinity in the movie with 13 scenes and 15 dialogue data in the form of misogyny with the criteria hatred towards women, aggressive, likes to organize women, greed with the motive of sex, and violent domination with the category control, intimidation, and bullying.

Toxic Masculinity Represented in Collen Hoover’s It Ends With Us (2016)

This study is an analysis of Colleen Hoover's novel, "It Ends with Us". Toxic masculinity refers to harmful social norms and expectations that promote traditional gender roles that associated with how man should behave to be called as being areal man. This research aims to find out what are the forms of toxic masculinity that represented by the male character in this novel. The result of this research showsthat there are three forms of toxic masculinity that can be found in this novel, namely misogyny, domination and violence.

Jordanian Woman as a Leader between Individual Resources and Social Conditions: A Comparative Case Study of Jerash and Al-Karak in Jordan

Objectives: The study purpose was to identify the personal resources and social conditions that enhance the leadership skills amongst women in Jordan. It aimed to shed light on the stereotypes, , and beliefs that underlie all aspects of gender-based discrimination in the field of study.
 Methods: The study relied on the analytical induction methodology. which is implemented by “designation” that is based on asking people “the designator” whether some women “the designatee” were more influential than others in their surroundings. The methodology was applied through conducting several FGDs among various age groups, as well as individual interviews with women who were designated as transformational leaders.
 Results: The study showed that ethnic affiliation in Jerash and Al-Karak played an important role in the way in which the concepts of masculinity and femininity were socially constructed, and thereby the way in which the concept of women leadership was constructed in those two cultures. The culture of (i.e. Al-Karak) seemed to be more tolerant and had wider space for the creation of female leaders in comparison with cultural environments of (i.e. Jerash). The study also showed that designated female leaders were usually inheritors of a high-level symbolic capital (i.e. middle/upper social class, sophisticated education, etc…). Furthermore, the role model of most female leaders was more likely their father or other charismatic male leaders.
 Conclusions: The study recommends to build solid foundations that can be followed by educational curricula, and girls' leadership training programmes.

Many Masculinities: Reading Stories from Shedding the Metaphors by Nandini Sahu

This paper analyses some of the selected stories from Shedding the Metaphors and tries to show the different types of masculinities in the male characters influenced by many factors such as class, caste, age, nationality and identity. It is an attempt to read the selected stories in the light of ‘Many Masculinities’ which emphasizes that there are multiple ways to be masculine, challenging traditional norms and stereotypes that limit masculinity to certain traits or behaviours. This acknowledges the existence of various masculinities, ranging from dominant or hegemonic forms of masculinity associated with power and privilege to marginalized or subordinated masculinities that may face discrimination and social pressures. R. W. Connell provided a useful theoretical account of gender in her book Masculinities which has become a classic work on the nature and construction of masculine identity. Connell argues that there is not one masculinity, but many different masculinities, each associated with different positions of power.
 This paper recognizes the importance of deconstructing and challenging notions of masculinity, promoting and accepting the diverse expressions of gender identity for all individuals. In the present chapter, seven out of twelve stories have been selected from Nandini Sahu’s Shedding the Metaphors, and by reading the selected stories in a new way, a critical analysis has been conducted on various types of masculinity and it tries to show how its form is changing nowadays.

Mužské postavy v prozaickom svete Vandy Rozenbergovej

The paper analyses the depiction of male characters in the selected texts of the Slovak author Vanda Rozenbergová. Most of the attention is focused on a specific set of problems – on young/adolescent male characters within certain family and partner configurations and on the segments of childhood/adolescence displayed in Rozenbergová’s three books: Slobodu bažantom (Freedom to Pheasants) (2015), Muž z jamy a deti z lásky (The Man out of a Hole and the Children out of Love) (2017), and Zjedol som Lautreca (I Ate Lautrec) (2021), not only because they offer a very good insight into her general style of writing, but also due to her assessment of the character/hero of our times and forms of masculinity in contemporary literature. The interpreted prose largely deals with adolescence as an important period during which the a child turns into an adult. Rozenbergerová’s non-adult protagonists often represent the cathartic aspect of an insensitive society which lacks the sense of fellowship as well as empathy. Their meaning of life and its value is represented by almost epistemological privilege in the child’s ability to see what cannot be seen by the adult.

Mapping Postcolonial Marginalisation and Reactive/Adaptive Models of Masculinity

Abstract This article examines the representation of postcolonial marginalisation and adaptive/reactive models of masculinity in NoViolet Bulawayo’s novel, We Need New Names. It focuses on the representations of masculinities in the text and their ramifications and entanglements at the global, regional and local levels. The analysis is mediated via a triangulation of the concepts of hegemonic masculinity, masculine (over)compensation and masculine hybridisation. It establishes that a culture of both hegemony and domination mediates and permeates masculine relations resulting in the enactment of reactive and adaptive responses in the form of both masculine (over)compensation and masculine hybridisation. These responses are mainly enacted by those subaltern masculinities who are at the receiving end of domination and hegemony. Additionally, these responses favour the enhancement of male domination and/or patriarchy as opposed to gender equality. They also do not favour the promotion of a culture of tolerance, democracy and/or human rights discourses that are central to the realities of much of the contemporary world.

Masculinity and veganism: the effect of linking vegan dishes with masculinity on men's attitudes toward vegan food

IntroductionVegetarian or vegan diets are not yet popular with most men, though they are beneficial for both health and the environment. Men's low preference for such diets might stem from the prevalent association of meat with masculinity, and of veganism with femininity. Accordingly, linking vegan nutrition to masculinity might help to develop a favorable attitude toward plant-based diets in men. The present study examined the effects of a masculine framing of vegan dishes on men's attitudes toward vegan food and veganism, and explored whether adherence to traditional forms of masculinity might increase the effects of masculine framing.MethodsWe conducted an online experiment with a 2 (man vs. woman) x 2 (conventional vs. masculine framing) design, in which 593 adults participated. We measured participants' attitudes toward vegan dishes (dish ratings, hunger ratings) and veganism (veganism ratings, vegan scenarios ratings), the perceived suitability of the dishes for men and women as well as men's identification with new forms of masculinity.ResultsWe found that a masculine framing of vegan dishes influenced the gender association of the dishes, weakening the link to femininity. However, masculine framing did not influence men's or women's attitudes toward the presented vegan dishes or veganism in general. Although the extent to which men identified with new forms of masculinity correlated positively with favorable attitudes toward veganism, new masculinity identification did - with an exception for the rating of the presented dishes - not moderate the effect of the experimental condition.DiscussionOur findings suggest that the potency of a short-term intervention might not be sufficient to counterbalance the prevailing feminine connotations associated with veganism. Thus, we encourage further exploration of masculine framing to improve men's perception of vegan food and the vegan concept, but with stronger stimuli and/or longer intervention duration.

Female SUPELTAS’ Masculinity in Malang

This study aims to (1) find out the form of masculinity in women's SUPELTAS in the city of Malang, (2) find out the factors that influence masculinity in women's SUPELTAS in Malang city. This research uses descriptive qualitative approach. Sources of data used are data from interviews and documentation obtained by researchers. Data collection techniques used by researchers namely observation techniques, interviews and and documentation. Data analysis used by researchers is Miles Huberman's data analysis in the form of data reduction, data presentation and conclusion. The results of this study are (1) there are 2 forms of masculinity in SUPELTAS women in the city of Malang, namely masculine personality in the form of being assertive and wise, independent, brave and loud and masculine in appearance in the form of short hair, wearing a hat and wearing pants. (2) Factors that influence masculinity in women's SUPELTAS in Malang city are the SUPELTAS regulations that have been stipulated and forced to live on the streets.

Getting big but not hard: A retrospective case-study of a male powerlifter's experience of steroid-induced erectile dysfunction

This article aims to excavate the lived experience of suffering with steroid-induced erectile dysfunction. By drawing upon original qualitative data, we chart the subjective journey to recovery of a male powerlifter and draw attention to the potential dangers of a self-help approach to treatment. Erectile dysfunction is a common symptom of anabolic-androgenic steroid-induced hypogonadism, a condition not commonly reported or discussed and is therefore a poorly studied health issue. Often considered a taboo subject, detailed accounts of men's experience of erectile dysfunction are relatively sparce, and so this paper makes an important contribution to bolstering what is a limited literature base. Links between contemporary conceptions of masculinity, muscularity, and sexual prowess are explored and form the basis of a critical analysis of popular treatment and prevention strategies. Among the central findings, this article suggests that steroids are not consumed despite the well-known risks, but precisely because the risks are well-known and ostensibly mitigated through engagement with ‘bro-science’. We conclude that there is a concerning misalignment in current treatment and prevention strategies that needs to be addressed if the issue of non-prescribed steroid use is to be effectively tackled. This research therefore raises serious questions for the healthcare profession and its approach towards treating and preventing steroid consumption.

The teaching body in sexuality education – intersections of age, gender, and sexuality

ABSTRACT This paper illuminates how teachers are influenced by age, gender and sexuality in teaching about sex and relationships. In this analysis grounded in feminist theory, age, gender and sexuality are considered to be enacted as doings. Six interviews with teachers working with sexuality education in K-12 schools in Sweden were chosen from of a larger body of material consisting of 21 interviews with professionals engaged in school-based sexuality education. The six interviewees were selected because they explicitly addressed how teachers’ age, gender and/or sexuality come to matter in the classroom. Findings show how male and female teachers organise their teaching in relation to normative expectations of age, gender and sexuality. In sexuality education, the diverse life-courses of (hetero)sexual women offer a wide range of pedagogic possibilities for female teachers to address issues of sexuality, consent and relationships whereas male teachers are constrained to doing safe(r) forms of masculinity by directing attention away from their bodies and experiences. In understanding these results, I argue that the figure of the tant has been key in forming the pedagogic backdrop to Swedish sexuality education, hence embedding a normative ‘who’ in the ‘how’ to teach sexuality education.