Construction Of Masculinity Research Articles

Limited Evidence that the Gender Composition of Public Conflicts is Associated with Bystander Intervention: A Video-Observational Study

Research suggests that the gender composition of conflict parties influences how bystanders perceive violence, reflecting constructions of masculinity and femininity that promote women’s protection. Relying on CCTV footage of public conflicts in the Netherlands, we ran logistic regression models at the situational level ( N = 66 conflicts) and multilevel models at the individual level ( N = 1,954 bystanders) to examine the relationship between conflict parties’ gender composition and bystander intervention. Further, we tested whether perceived intimate ties between conflict parties were associated with intervention. Gender composition was not linked to intervention probability, but patterns in the data point towards less bystander intervention in intimate conflicts, though not statistically clear. Understanding contextual conflict variations is crucial for effective bystander intervention strategies.

Men's mourning experiences for the death of a loved one: An integrative review.

To analyze the current state of knowledge regarding men's mourning experiences following the death of a loved one. An integrative review was conducted using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies published in English or Spanish between 2017 and 2022 that investigated men's mourning experiences. Studies focused on grief in participants with different sexes or gender identities, maladaptive grief, persistent complex bereavement disorder, prolonged grief disorder, bereavement over pets, or losses other than a human death were excluded. Additionally, reviews, books, theses, editorials, and opinion pieces were not included. The search was conducted in CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus in 2023. JBI tools were used for quality appraisal, and the analysis employed the constant comparative method. Our analysis of eight English-language documents with evidence levels IV-VI, informed by the Socioecological Model of Men's Grief, revealed that factors at individual, interpersonal, community, and public policy sublevels interact significantly to shape men's grief experiences. Themes emerged along a continuum of intuitive and instrumental coping responses, including adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, loneliness and social support needs, the influence of societal constructions of masculinity and the grieving process in men. Men's mourning experiences are complex and multifaceted, influenced by diverse expressions of masculinity and the interaction of various contextual factors. The Mental Health Nursing Process should prioritize understanding and addressing the unique experiences of bereaved men.

Considering masculinities at forest fires: the case of the 2021 Muğla forest fires in Turkey

ABSTRACT This article investigates emerging masculinities in Turkey’s massive Muğla forest fires of 2021 and their aftermath. The findings are based on a multi-stage qualitative field study: the disaster research was conducted in Köyceğiz and Marmaris in 2021, as well as social media research and personal observations during the fires, followed by follow-up research in 2022. Following Pacholok (2013). I argue that in the unique time and terrain frame of disaster, masculinities are contested and realized. In relation to disaster and environment, four main local constructions of masculinities are observed during the fires. They are (1) the villagers who embody traditional rural masculinities, (2) the firefighters who represent working-class masculinities based on arduous physical labour without heroism, (3) the forest officers and engineers who represent masculinities with refined state-centred engineering male rationality that aim for men’s domination over nature, and (4) the celebrities and volunteers that comprise the urbanites who represent possibilities for alternative ecomasculinities with subtle gender egalitarianism. They present particular constructions of masculinities that reveal local societal norms and expectations and the gender relations that emerged as a result of the crisis environment caused by forest fires.

PARADIGMS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASCULINITY IN OUR TIME: HAVE WE OVERCOME IT?

This article proposes a debate on gender identity issues, with a main focus on masculinity in the 21st century. Moving towards a perspective that is not limited to sexuality, the concept of hegemonic masculinity is explored, influenced by several theoretical fields, such as cultural, sociological and psychoanalytic studies. The methodology adopted involves writing about oneself and remembering personal experiences, highlighting the importance of this reflection on subjectivities in the training of future teachers. The results and discussions address the influence of patriarchy and the historical construction of masculinity, as well as its hegemonic manifestations in various social contexts, such as education, work and health. It is concluded that hegemonic masculinity perpetuates male domination over women and non-normative men, but its definition and practice are complex and varied, and it is important to consider individual and contextual particularities in the analysis of male identities.

Gender Dynamics Across Cultures: A Comprehensive Exploration

Abstract: A Comprehensive exploration delves into the intricate dynamics of gender across different cultures, highlighting how gender roles and identities are influenced by historical, social, economic, and religious factors. The article examines traditional and evolving gender roles, the impact of feminist movements, the role of language in perpetuating gender norms, and the cultural variations in attitudes toward sexuality and LGBTQ+ identities. It also addresses the intersectionality of gender with other identities, media representation, the effects of globalization on gender dynamics, gender-based violence, and the unique constructions of masculinity across cultures. By understanding these multifaceted influences, the article aims to provide a nuanced perspective on the ongoing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable societies.

Race-ing Masculinity

Studies about representations of Latinidad in US and European media have identified stereotypes like criminalization and hypersexualization. Furthermore, it has been argued that comedy operates as a double-edged sword in exposing racism, as humor can be deployed to simultaneously mask/justify and show/denounce racial discrimination and monolithic representations of Latinidad. Using a feminist intersectional perspective that foregrounds constructions of masculinities and racialization/migration as exclusionary factors, this essay discusses how RTVE Playz, the digital platform of the Spanish public television aimed at young audiences, represents Latinidad in its series Riders (2021). Situated within the dynamics of racialization in Spain, Riders stands out as an example of dark humor that both complicates and reinforces stereotypes. Through a close reading of the series, we assess its response to current social, political and cultural citizenship challenges.

Men’s anxieties and defences regarding gender (in)equality in the workplace: An object-relations psychoanalysis of organisational masculinities

This article explores men’s psychic attachments to organisational masculinities in the context of gender equality initiatives in the UK finance sector. Deploying an object-relations psychoanalysis and generating interview data with 30 male executives and non-executives, it unpacks why and how men outwardly support but unconsciously repudiate workplace gender equality. We explain how this conflict indicates the presence of what Melanie Klein terms the paranoid-schizoid position. We examine two key unconscious processes of the paranoid-schizoid position in men’s accounts: gender-splitting, when men dissociate undesirable aspects of organisational masculinity, and projection, when repressed, negative parts of their masculine ideals are instead attributed to women. This article’s contributions demonstrate how the paranoid-schizoid position is defensive, enabling men to articulate support for gender equality, but also protect paranoid constructions of organisational masculinity when it is threatened by women. Empirically and theoretically, this article shows how organisational masculinities are ambivalent, which in Kleinian terms underscores how masculinity has ‘good’ and ‘bad’ components that are constituted unconsciously through its relationship with the object world. This article concludes by drawing out the implications for (re)positioning men within workplace gender equality debates and activities.

Reclaiming Cross-Dressing: Masculinity Construction in the All-Female Yue Opera’s Shakespearean Adaptations

Because it offers the stage such scope for polyerotic interpretation, crossdressing has held an irresistible appeal to theatre practitioners across times and cultures, including Shakespeare in early modern England. The Shakespearean cross-dressing theatre, however, has long excited critical disapprobation as a cultural form which excluded women. However, can cross-dressing as a theatrical device be reclaimed by women as an alternative mode of Shakespearean performance? What academic and practical significance can a reversed, all-female casting of Shakespearean production offer? This paper will argue that the Chinese Yue opera’s Shakespeare adaptations may shed light on how gender impersonation can be used to express women’s wishes and desires. As the second largest Chinese opera genre, Yue opera is a theatreform in which all roles are played by actresses for a predominantly female audience. Interestingly, Shakespeare is also Yue opera’s most adapted foreign playwright. General Ma Long (2001, an adaptation of Macbeth) and Coriolanus and Duliniang (2016, an adaptation of Coriolanus) are two representative specimens of Yue opera Shakespearean adaptations with all-female casting. The male protagonists of both are played by cross-dressed actresses. How do Yue opera female performers, whose style is generally perceived as soft and feminine, stage the Shakespearean war heroes famous for their bloodthirsty masculinity? Deploying a theoretical framework based on Judith Butler’s gender performativity theory and Bertolt Brecht’s account of the epic theatre, this essay aims to examine the masculinity construction in the all-female Yue opera Shakespearean adaptations, in order to open a discussion of how cross-dressing can be used to deconstruct and reassemble gender norms.

Portraying political violence, rape and masculinities in post-apartheid African language literature: the case of the novel Ngiyolibala Ngifile

The canon of African language literature has been critiqued in its entirety by local and foreign scholars on the premise that it has failed to respond to sociopolitical and colonial realities. This article argues that African language literature has been and continues to be socially committed in the post-apartheid epoch. This is argued through an analysis of the novel Ngiyolibala Ngifile by Sibiya. The analysis focuses on the portrayal of violence, rape and the construction of masculinities in post-apartheid South Africa. Through the utilisation of a post-colonial framework, the article shows how African language writers like Sibiya use the African milieu to link political violence, rape and masculinities to the colonial matrix, while simultaneously pointing to the causes and continuum of these topics. It further displays the author’s critique of the black bourgeoisie as stakeholders of colonialism, which unleashed violence on black bodies. This study is a significant insertion of masculinity as a critical unit, along with race, language and women, in the analysis of African language literature. This study recommends and proposes an expansion of the theoretical paradigm of reading African languages to accommodate neoteric frameworks of reading. It further suggests a close reading of African language literary texts through the postcolonial lens and with masculinities as a critical unit.

Gendered socialization and sexual violence - A socio-anthropological study in Togo.

This article bases its argument on the social representations that justify sexual violence against adolescent girls and women and make it commonplace. It looks at the constructions of masculinity and femininity and their potential effects on the occurrence of sexual violence among adolescent girls. This is a socio-anthropological study carried out in the plateau regions of Togo. The empirical data came from individual semi-directive interviews (55), life stories (4) of adolescent rape victims and group interviews (40) with several stakeholders (adolescents, parents of adolescents, educators, community leaders and religious leaders). The results show that despite the efforts of the State and non-governmental organisations, local sexuality logics often have an impact on the persistence of sexual violence. (.

Gender socialization and adolescent pregnancies in Togo.

The aim of this article is to understand the significance of the gender socialisation of adolescents and its impact on sexuality. This socio-anthropological study is based on qualitative surveys conducted as part of two action-research programmes implemented between 2018 and 2022 in Togo. The empirical data comes from individual semi-directed interviews, group interviews and life stories relating to the themes of sexuality, early pregnancy and gender-based violence. The results show that in these patriarchal societies, the socialisation of adolescents is structured around gender relations. The social construction of masculinity is based on a position of decision-making power for young boys, while that of femininity inculcates submissive behaviour in young girls. In these contexts, many young girls, even if they do attend school, find it difficult to express their opinions on matters of love and sex.

GENDER APPROACH TO PREVENTING WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORISM IN INDONESIA

In recent years, there has been an increase in women's involvement in terrorism in Indonesia. The evolution of women involved in terrorism is not only limited to followers, but has increased and become more dangerous. Extremist groups use women in their acts of terror because they see an opportunity for women to become suicide perpetrators. Gender gaps and inequality are factors for women to be involved in the action. How patriarchal views and masculinity constructs affect radicalization and acts of violent extremism, so a gender-based approach is needed to be able to promote gender equality and mitigate discrimination, and can be actualized in terrorism prevention strategies in Indonesia.

Transforming harmful representations, investigating violence and empowering care practises in masculinities.

Stemming from a critical perspective of feminist studies on masculinities, this article proposes to explore how dominant and hegemonic masculinities are being reimagined, renegotiated and reconstructed, by understanding new patterns of violence amongst boys, on the one hand; and how care, as the opposite of violence, and a concept in construction from a feminist perspective, can be adopted, put in practise and understood. From a feminist standpoint masculinities studies need to go through a renewed problematisation of the social constructions of masculinities in a space-time context that intersects the economic crisis, health crisis and, on the other hand, implementation of legislation and initiatives for gender equality and citizenship, and is marked by social challenges that are related to the increase of gender inequality, violence indicators and extremism but also the emergence of caring masculinities that need closer attention. This feminist approach to masculinities allows us to critically challenge hegemonic models of boyhood/manhood, specifically by developing a FEMINIST THEORY OF CARING MASCULINITIES. Through a critical understanding of the new patterns and ways in which patriarchal masculinities are perpetuated in society, and placing CARE as the centrepiece and pro-active practise that opposes violence sustained models of masculinities, feminist masculinities studies can challenge dominant forms of masculinity by taking action in diverse social contexts and emphasising empathy, emotional expression, and cooperative relationships.

Negotiating Masculinity and Cultural Identity in Americanah: An Analysis of Hegemonic Norms in Nigerian Diaspora Literature

This article delves into the presentation of masculinity and cultural identity in diaspora literature, honing in on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah. The study seeks to understand how cultural expectations and power dynamics contribute to the construction of masculinity within Nigerian diasporic communities, utilizing Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, it seeks to examine the impact of cultural fusion on the development of masculinity and cultural identity in male main characters in the chosen novel and to investigate how the intersections of race, gender, and immigrant background converge to influence the formation of masculinity in Americanah. Through a thorough examination of the male characters, the research delves into their engagements with dominant norms while striving to establish their sense of self and connection. The primary discoveries underscore the complex interplay among race, gender, and the immigrant background in moulding not only personal but also communal identities. The investigation pinpoints occurrences of defiance and rebellion against the prevailing masculine norms, while also exploring the potential for cultural amalgamation to redefine conventional ideas of masculinity. This scholarly inquiry enriches the comprehension of the intricate dynamics surrounding masculinity and cultural identification, providing valuable perspectives on the nuances of diasporic encounters and their influence on identity formation within diasporic literary works. In addition, this learned analysis creates opportunities for more inquiries into the relationships among sex, ethnicity, and individuality in contemporary literature, ultimately propelling the awareness of different plots within migrant communities.

Testing rurality as a moderator of associations between masculinity constructs, help-seeking, and firearm storage practices.

Self-reliance, emotional control, and honor ideology may prevent help-seeking when suicidal ideation emerges. Furthermore, these factors are associated with an increased likelihood of firearm ownership and unsecure storage, which could facilitate suicide attempts. The rurality of residence may impact these associations, as rural regions report increased independence, honor culture, and firearm prevalence. Therefore, this study examined how emotional control, self-reliance, and honor ideology relate to firearm storage and help-seeking for suicidal ideation, with rurality moderating these associations. Participants were 733 adults (63.6% female, 33.5% male, and 2.9% transgender/other) who reported past-month suicidal ideation. Analyses tested associations between emotional control, self-reliance, and honor ideology with help-seeking for suicidal ideation and firearm storage, with rurality moderating these associations. The association of self-reliance and decreased help-seeking willingness for suicidal ideation was significant for those in non-urban areas. The association of emotional control and decreased help-seeking willingness for suicidal ideation was significant for those in urban areas. No variables predicted firearm storage. Self-reliance and emotional control could be barriers for help-seeking regardless of gender identity that depend on rurality. Clinicians may target emotional control/self-reliance via strengths-based approaches with an emphasis on when these constructs could be maladaptive, as this could promote help-seeking.

Comedy and Masculine Hegemony: Adapting Masculinities in Humorous Children’s Fiction

AbstractSince the early 2000s, there has been increasing scholarly focus on the representations of masculinities in children’s literature. In part, this is due to the growing field of critical studies in men and masculinities coupled with wider public concern about boys’ development and education. This paper contributes to this work by analysing constructions of masculinity in four popular humorous series for children: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007–2022), The Treehouse books (2011–2023), The Bad Guys (2015–2023), and Planet Omar (2019–2023). Understanding genre as a reciprocal dynamic, the analysis demonstrates how these texts both intercede and shape the social and national milieu in which they are produced. As our understanding of acceptable masculine behaviours has adapted, so too has there been a shift in both the represented masculine dynamics and role of comedy in humorous junior fiction for boys. While some early series attempt to invert the hierarchical ordering of boys to validate alternative masculinities, the farcical genre conventions rest on limited models of masculinity, and frequently reaffirm the very tropes and behaviours that they seek to redress. In contrast, later series attempt to expand the repertoire of qualities that are acceptable for boys and men, challenging patterns of masculine hegemony, thereby revisioning what it means to be male. While humorous texts for young people may engage young male readers, the operation of humour and its relationship to masculinities is political, and can operate in either reductive or expansive ways.

Precarious work and constructions of masculinities: the case of day labour workers in Cape Town, South Africa

Masculinities are organised hierarchically, and how a man sees himself is often informed by his positioning within this hierarchy. The context within which men are located determines which factors or markers of masculinity become more salient at different times, and so do the social situations and spaces men are interacting within, and with whom they are interacting. Their socio-cultural, political, and economic positioning inform not only how they construct their gendered identities, but also where they are located within social hierarchies of masculinity. This article examines constructions of masculinities among economically marginalised men who seek work on the side of the road in Cape Town, South Africa. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 Black African men and the findings suggest that economic provision remains a central feature in participants’ constructions of masculinity. Men’s experiences of precarious work not only impact how they see themselves but also their ability to establish and maintain romantic relationships which, as argued in this study, serve an important role in validating and affirming participants’ masculinity. This study shows that when some men are not able to provide, their romantic relationships fail, which adversely impacts their self-esteem. In response, some of the participants in this study turned towards alcohol abuse, and neglecting/abandoning their homes and families as a way to avoid the shame and humiliation they experience as ‘men who cannot provide’.

Exploring the construction of masculinity among male K-POP fans: a case study of K-POP fandom in Makassar City within the context of social environmet and education

Background: In contemporary Indonesian society, K-Pop has emerged as a significant cultural phenomenon with a unique impact on gender perceptions. This study aims to explore the social construction of masculinity among K-Pop fanboys in Makassar, Indonesia, and examine the societal positioning of this form of masculinity. It draws on the definition of masculinity as a societal construct and examines how masculinity is shaped by social influences. Method: Utilizing Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann's theory of social construction, the study views masculinity as a dynamic process involving externalization, objectivation, and internalization. It also references Janet Saltzman Chafetz's identification of areas of masculinity and R.W. Connell's concept of hegemonic masculinity to understand the hierarchical nature of masculine identities. Findings: Despite the popularity of K-Pop, male fans often face negative stigma and discrimination due to perceptions of K-Pop as feminine. The study reveals how masculinity is constructed among K-Pop fanboys in Makassar and their experiences of societal discrimination. Conclusion: By analyzing these dynamics, the study contributes to a broader understanding of the diverse forms of masculinity and the impact of cultural phenomena like K-Pop on gender constructs. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study highlights the unique dynamics in the construction of masculinity among male K-Pop fans in Indonesia, revealing the complex interactions between global culture, local gender identities, and social stigma. By applying social construction theory to the K-Pop phenomenon, this study opens up new perspectives in understanding the evolution of masculinity in the era of pop culture globalization.

POLITIK MASKULINITAS DAN BAHASA SEKSIS: BAPAKISME RIDWAN KAMIL DALAM AKUN INSTAGRAM @RIDWANKAMIL

The New Order's masculinity politics, which perpetuates hegemonic masculinity through the concept of bapakism, is still influential after the reform. The implications can be seen from the dominance of the "father" image often displayed by politicians via social media, one of whom is Ridwan Kamil. This article aims to explain Ridwan Kamil's construction of masculinity in the Instagram account @ridwankamil using mixed methods by combining a corpus-based digital humanities theoretical framework and concepts of the politics of masculinity and bapakisme. The results of the research show that, Ridwan Kamil predominantly displays hegemonic masculinity through caption language on his Instagram by often positioning himself as "father" and society as "children" and subordinating women using sexist language. This article argues that politicians use political masculinity as rhetoric and ideology to strengthen their position of power and gain support from society, which is also still heteronormative.

The Role of Migration Processes in the Creation of New Masculinities

Men are oppressed by the influence of hegemonic masculinities precepts. This study that is within the project PID 2021-1271130D-I00, explores the factors and the mechanisms of masculinities creation, masculinities’ influence ONB migratory processes and hate speeches related to them. For this reason, through qualitative methodology and a phenomenological approach, a sample of eight individuals were given semi-structured interviews to investigate and describe the state of masculinity in Almería. The objectives were to highlight the elements that allow the construction of the autochthonous hegemonic masculinities and to know their relationship with Moroccan immigrants’ masculinities, trying to comprehend whether there has been a hybridization of masculinities. According to the results, the theoretical sample follows some of the new masculinities precepts, as well as the process of otherness that young Moroccans raised in Spain apply to those raised in Morocco. This eventuality confirms that the theory is disconnected from reality, overall, resulting in the fact that people perpetuate ideas which are not in line with reality.