Representations Of Masculinity Research Articles

Males are Toxic: A Masculine Critique of Ayad Akhtar’s Play The Who & The What

Hegemonic and toxic traits of masculinity are complex ideas that have affected personal relationships and social hierarchies for centuries. The play The Who & The What by Ayad Akhtar presents these traits through the male character Afzal, a Pakistani American citizen whose traditional culture and modern American lifestyle lead him to adopt these forms of masculinity. Therefore, the present study basically aims to focus on the impact of Afzal’s masculinity in Akhtar’s play The Who & The What over his daughters, Zarina and Mahwish, as well as Zarina’s husband, Eli. The Who & The What centers around Zarina, the female protagonist, who challenges her society by writing a novel entitled The Who & The What, exploring the personal life of the prophet Mohammed (BPUH). As the play moves, her father, Afzal, opposes her and anyone who crosses the limits set by their traditional Arab-Muslim culture. However, employing the notion of Hegemonic Masculinity by R. W. Connell and the Toxic Theory of Masculinity as proposed by Terry A. Kupers provides new lenses to analyze the text of the play. Thus, the present study found that Afzal’s actions reflect certain hegemonic and toxic assets such as authority, domination, control, superiority, and making decisions for others.

A Grounded Theory of Healthy Masculinity and Identity Reconceptualization

ABSTRACT Research related to masculine studies focuses largely on negative aspects of masculinity rather than highlighting possibilities of healthy masculine development. The aim of this study was to provide evidence that emerging social and cultural narratives are helping assist some men to become more emotionally healthy. This study used constructivist grounded theory tools to explore broader, non-dichotomous descriptions of male emotional development and vulnerability as shared by men reflecting on their own experience of navigating cultural expectations of masculinity. Data gathered from online discussions illustrate how many men are rejecting aspects of hegemonic masculinity in favor of more positive traits, including attempts to be both strong and vulnerable. Results of this study can inform approaches to individual therapy, couples therapy, other intervention programs, and public health work for men who are seeking to develop or improve their emotional vulnerability. Specific benefits may include applications in domestic violence reduction and gender equality.

Archiving sartorial narratives from India: An interview with Anwesh Sahoo

This article is an interview conducted by the author with Anwesh Sahoo who is a visual designer, technical and non-fungible token (NFT) artist, the first Indian recipient of the Troy Perry Medal of Pride for compassionate activism, the youngest winner of Mr Gay World India and the creator of The Effeminare. Through their conversation, the article touches upon a range of aspects of queer fashion, including cyber fashion, digital drag, representation of masculinity and femininity, and its varied significances within the cultural context of India.

Complicit masculinity of judges

The paper focuses on how unjust provocation reduction, regulated in Article 29 of the Turkish Penal Code, is applied in cases of violence against women, LGBTI, and transgender individuals in Turkey, also known as "masculinity sentence reduction" by feminist lawyers. In particular, I will look into case files in which the "masculinity defence" made by almost all perpetrators in femicide cases is accepted by the court as a justification for reducing the sentence of the perpetrator. I will examine how masculinity is portrayed in judicial decisions, specifically looking at provocation defences to demonstrate how jurisdiction plays a part in perpetuating masculine domination within society. Using theories of masculinity and masculine domination, I will try to reveal the contribution of judges to the "masculine legal culture" as a form of "complicit masculinity".

The Dichotomy within Masculinity in Fadia Faqir's The Cry of the Dove: A Self-Orientalist Approach

The representation of masculinity is a prevalent theme in literary studies that critique Orientalist discourse within Western literature. This exploration often highlights the dichotomy inherent in the portrayal of masculinity, contrasting the representations of Western and Eastern men in Orientalist texts. In her article "Re-Orientalism: The Perpetration and Development of Orientalism by Orientals," Lisa Lau (2009) introduces the concepts of 're-Orientalism' and 'self-Orientalism,' arguing that Orientalist depictions are not only perpetuated in Western narratives but are also internalized within Eastern literary productions. Lau posits that writers from Eastern backgrounds frequently do not wholly reject these Orientalist narratives; instead, they engage with and occasionally affirm them, thereby reinforcing a binary opposition between the East and West in their works. Despite the relevance of this theory, the contributions of Anglophone Arab authors, such as Fadia Faqir, have not been thoroughly analyzed through the lens of Self-Orientalism. Consequently, this study seeks to investigate the representation of masculinity in Faqir's The Cry of the Dove (2007) within the framework of Self-Orientalism, with a focus on determining whether Faqir challenges or internalizes Orientalist stereotypes. This theoretical perspective suggests that Anglophone authors tend to internalize Orientalist stereotypes, constructing a dichotomy that attributes negative characteristics to Eastern individuals while ascribing positive traits to their Western counterparts. Through a detailed examination of male characters in the novel, this study reveals that Faqir internalizes these Orientalist representations, thereby establishing a contrasting portrayal of masculinity: Arab and Muslim men are depicted as lustful, cruel, and hypocritical, in stark contrast to their Western counterparts, who are characterized as respectful, tender, and virtuous.

Managers’ Toxic Masculinity Erodes Employees’ Work Ethics in Private Institutions of DRC’s City of Bukavu

Purpose: This research has explored views of employees in Bukavu (DRC) private institutions regarding ways managers’ toxic masculinity damages employers’ work ethics at workplace. Methodology: Researchers conducted this qualitative study in the city of Bukavu between April and June 2024 with randomly selected 25 respondents from five private institutions. Respondents were Congolese females and males whose ages varied between 19 and 63. Data was collected via face-to-face focus group discussions, with in-depth interviews. The theories of masculinity and control guided the research. Masculinity posits that managers must exert power and control over their employees at workplace. Managers resorting to toxic masculinity damage the ethics of their workers, which can affect productivity. Findings: Results reveal how a manager may use toxic masculinity to deride the workers, which kills their appreciation and motivation for work. Managers applying domination, homophobia, giving poor and unfair salaries, abusing employees and discriminating against them are perpetuating toxic masculinity in their institutions. These factors are demotivating and destructive agents for employees’ ethics at work because they convey toxic masculinity through power and control, all causing work unproductivity. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The research suggests that employers should develop progressive masculinity at work by valuing and respecting the workers. The perspective can boost collaboration; sustain commitment and harmony at work. Socializing constructive manliness can create a conducive work environment in private institutions of Bukavu, increase workers’ commitment to work, as well as the production.

Stochastic Gender-Based Violence: How Incels Justify and Encourage Sexualized Violence Against Women.

This study examines how involuntarily celibate ("incels") men justify gender-based and sexualized violence against women. Based on an analysis of 22,060 discussion board comments, we argue that: (1) incel justifications of sexualized violence are tied to their perception of gender relations, (2) incels justify sexual assault as a form of revenge for their incel status, and (3) incels misuse science to argue that women enjoy sexual assault. Adapting the concept of "stochastic terrorism," we argue that incels and similar communities produce stochastic gender-based violence, wherein communities justify and encourage acts of violence. Findings are discussed in relation to gender-based violence, rape culture, masculinities theory, and policy.

Édouard Louis´s novel The End of Eddy: A representation of hegemonic masculinity?

Background In this paper we analyse the novel The End of Eddy by Édouard Louis. The motivation for this paper is Bourdeau’s (2020) observation that Louis’s book explores working class politics, sexuality, and masculinity. Methods We analysed the amendment through narrative content analysis, the application of which allows us to answer the following question: Édouard Louis’s novel The End of Eddy: A representation of hegemonic masculinity? Results We conclude that this narrative is built on contradictions that can be summarized as a conflict between a socio-cultural norm anchored in a French village and a person who does not fulfil this concept, who is outside of it. We believe that hegemonic masculinity, that is, one part of the cultural norm of a given village, causes Eddy’s inclination or consciousness of homonationalism. Thus, on the one hand, hegemonic masculinity is undoubtedly present in this novel; on the other hand, it forms a kind of background or socio-cultural environment which, although it defines itself against the given, unconsciously causes the “birth of the conscious homosexual”. Conclusions Thus, we dare to claim that the narrative under analysis is not only a representation of hegemonic masculinity, but also an accentuation of its external and internal influence on one’s own perception of (sexual) difference.

Unveiling Violence and Masculinity through a Psychoanalytic Study of Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class (1977), Sarah Kane' Blasted (1995) and The Body of a Woman as a Battlefield in Bosnian War (1996) by Matei Visniec

The examination of violence and its association with masculinity is depicted in three distinct plays: Blasted, written by Sarah Kane in 1995; Curse of the Starving Class, authored by Sam Shepard in 1977 (it was made into a Hollywood film in 1994); and Matei Vişniec’ The Body of a Woman as a Battlefield in the Bosnian War (1996). Utilizing a qualitative approach, this study employs close textual analysis and an extensive review of relevant literature to examine the representation of violence and masculinity in theatrical framework while also exploring the wider societal implications of such portrayals. The chosen plays present a wide range of viewpoints regarding violence, encompassing both highly intense manifestations of violence and the repercussions of warfare on the individuals. This analysis utilizes Judith Butler's theory of gender construction and Antonio Artaud's Theatre of Cruelty in order to examine the ways in which these plays either challenge or uphold conventional gender. Furthermore, it investigates the intricate correlation between trauma and aggressive conduct as depicted in the plays. By going deeply into the text and exploring its underlying concepts, it reveals the crucial function of theater in tackling and evaluating complex social problems. The plays act as a mirror for society viewpoints, forcing readers and the audiences to face uncomfortable truths about aggression, masculinity, and emotional anguish. The impacts of trauma on individuals and communities are brought to light. These plays demonstrate how war trauma can induce rage and promote violent behavior. It also highlights the power of theater to challenge harmful social conventions and catalyze positive social change by challenging traditional gender roles and power dynamics. Improving the audiences understanding of cultural attitudes and potential paths for societal change, this study contributes significantly to the assessment of violence and masculinity as depicted in theatrical performances.

Representation and Negotiation of Masculinities in South Asian English Fiction: Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis

This study traces the representation and negotiation of masculinities in Shamsie’s Home Fire. The analysis and discussion are based, on the one hand, on the deconstruction of Connell’s (1995) models of hegemonic masculinities in the novel and, on the other hand, on the exploration of alternative reshaping and more dialogical models of masculinities as stated in the theory of performativity by Judith Butler (1990, 1999) and represented in the selected fiction. For the data analysis, theoretical insights were taken from the feminist critical discourse analysis. The findings of the study reveal that individuals acknowledge themselves either as masculine or feminine referring to their gender identity. Sociologists intend to refer to gender as an essential status because it is widely recognized as a significant factor in determining identity, involvement in institutions, socialization, and opportunities in life. The negotiation of masculinities is suggested to make society more humane and balanced where individuals express their potential and personality according to their own choices.

Shift in Traditional Masculine Role Amid COVID-19: A Comprehensive Overview From Bangladesh

Gender has been an essential category of analysis that has been culturally and historically embedded in society since the 90s century (Scott, 1986). Gender is not a set of defined traits of masculine and feminine roles;instead, it is connected to social, economic, and psychological aspects. This research intends to examine the changing pattern of conventional conservative masculinity amid the COVID-19 epidemic,which instigates male dominance and supremacy and prescribes an fundamental and objective manner of men's roles. Covid-19, a worldwide pandemic, brought immense health as well as socioeconomic crisis for both men and women.As men and women experience the catastrophes differently,a gendered dimension of assessing their condition due to such a pandemic is necessary. Consequently, this paper aims to explore men's miscellaneous experiences, including their socioeconomic crisis, struggle, and coping mechanisms in that outbreak period. Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity, Talcott Parsons' functionalist theory, and Judith Lorber'sgender role theory were used to assess findings and to comprehend traditional masculinity. According to findings, men face a massive change in their way of living due to the pandemic, which brought both positive changes in their behavior as well as creating an extra burden to bear socioeconomic turmoil. However, men's involvement in family care work, participation in parenting, contribution to creating flexible conjugal relations, and agreement in the deterioration of precarious masculinity indicate a shifting prototype of traditional masculinity. Similarly, masculinity is not just a linear, homogenous, or rigid construction; it has multiple overlapping variables that evaluate the pandemic from a gendered dimension.

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.

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.

Masculinity and Homosociality in Western Cinema: Taking Close (2022) as a Case Study

Masculinity and homosociality in Western cinema undergo continuous evolution, transitioning from the construction of traditional ideals to contemporary, more diverse expressions, thereby presenting challenges and deconstructions. To contribute to the theorization of masculinity and homosociality in Western films, this study examines Lukas Dhont's Close to analyze how masculinity and homosociality are represented and negotiated to reproduce gender structures and heteronormative ideologies, and offer implications for future film presentations. Employing textual and formal analyses, along with relevant theories of masculinity and homosociality, this paper identifies different forms of masculinities embodied in hierarchical and horizontal homosociality. In doing so, this paper finds that homosociality provides space for some masculinities to assert and solidify their dominance while relegating others to subordinated or marginalized positions. The dynamic shifts in masculinity also correspondingly affect homosocial dynamics. Further exploration is warranted in presenting and constructing positive narratives surrounding non-hegemonic masculinity and horizontal homosociality, so that a diverse, anti-homophobic, and gender equality-supporting masculinity on screen may have the potential to achieve hegemony.

Representation of feminine symbols in filter cigarette products

Background: Today, cigarettes are used as a consumer product by both men and women. In the past, smoking was often associated with its use by men. Over time, cigarette consumption has shifted culturally, with women becoming consumers of cigarettes with designs that emphasize elegance and a shift in consumer base. The tobacco industry adapted and began to release products aimed specifically at women, such as cigarettes with slimmer filters and more feminine packaging designs. This article discusses the changing role of filter cigarettes, which were originally associated as a symbol of femininity and are now increasingly used by men. Methods: The method used in this research is a literature study that collects, analyzes, and evaluates various relevant literature sources. Findings: This article illustrates how filter cigarettes have changed the representation of femininity and masculinity in tobacco consumption culture. Filter cigarettes were originally designed and promoted as a product that emphasized elegance, grace, and feminine imagery. However, filter cigarette consumption has shifted significantly over time, and more and more men are adopting filter cigarette products. Conclusion: Cigarette use is also influenced by the trend of e-cigarettes and the influence of social media on cigarette marketing which may lead to an increase in the number of female smokers. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study investigates the symbolic representation of femininity in filter cigarettes, elucidating how the tobacco industry strategically employs gendered marketing to appeal to female consumers. By examining the evolution of these marketing strategies and their effects on gender norms and consumer behavior, the research offers a distinctive perspective on the intersection of gender and tobacco advertising.

Men, Intimate Connections and the Timing of Fatherhood: Conceptualising ‘Misconnect’ within the Sociology of Personal Life

Sociological explorations of trends of later parenthood have paid insufficient attention to the significance of intimate relationships, and of connectedness more generally, for such trends. This article presents findings from qualitative interviews with men (n = 25) who do not (yet) have children about their experiences of intimate relationship establishment and progression and imaginaries of fatherhood, presenting three themes: dating as elusive, fatherhood as elusive for unpartnered men and intimate relationships as risky. Findings are discussed in relation to theories of connection and connectedness, and theories of masculinities to consider how narratives are structurally shaped by gender. The article discusses the nuanced, complex ways in which people do and do not form and practise close relationships, and introduces the concept of ‘misconnect’ to better attend to disjunction in connection, discussing the significance of this concept for understandings of later parenthood and for the sociology of personal life more broadly.

The Representations of Toxic Masculinity on Nate Jacobs in Euphoria (2019)

The Representations of Toxic Masculinity on Nate Jacobs in Euphoria (2019)

Gender Equality in Vietnam Labour Law: A Critique Toward Sustainable Development

Labor law is traditionally viewed as a crucial mechanism for advancing gender equality in the workplace by providing a framework to eliminate sex-based discrimination and enhance women’s participation in the workforce. As nations strive to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the significance of such laws is amplified, with gender equality not only a key indicator but also an enabler for other SDGs. This study demonstrates that, despite recent reforms in Vietnam's labour law reducing barriers to female employment, pervasive gender inequality persists, fuelled by enduring employment stereotypes that often depict women as victims. To develop a sustainable workforce, Vietnam's labor laws and policies should implement strategies to dismantle these stereotypes. This research suggests transitioning from the traditional approach of female protection to involving men in domestic roles. A strategy targeting men is expected to promote gender equality in the Vietnamese workforce by altering employer perceptions of female employees' maternal roles. From the perspective of masculinity theory, the potential of paternity bonuses is significant; they can enhance women’s career opportunities by alleviating domestic burdens and broadening acceptable roles for men.

A Deviant Pathway To Respectability: The Enforcer Career Path In Professional Ice Hockey From 1997–2012

ABSTRACT Deviant behavior may be thought of as irrational and compulsive, as permissible only in areas devoid of social control, or as something that needs to be kept hidden from society at large. However, behavior that is labeled as deviant or problematic may offer an alternative and seemingly rational pathway to success within socially respected contexts. Here, a quantitative portrait of such a case is presented: the occurrence of fist-fighting within junior and professional hockey organizations. Analysis shows that fighting in hockey, while frowned upon and debated by many in the media and the public, has served as a pathway to success for less skilled players. While theories of masculinity, honor, and intergroup violence may explain why these fights occur at all, variance in this behavior between individuals is largely explained by an informal division of labor that occurs as less-skilled players seek a way into higher levels of professional hockey. Those who choose to fight more than others are largely responding to a set of incentives within the ecology of their sport, in line with other choice-centered models of deviant behavior. Deviance, paradoxically, offers an alternative but costly pathway to respectability.

Negotiating Hegemonic Masculinities and Mutual Exoticization within Grindr Tourism Interactions: “Everyone in Tel Aviv is a Muscle God”

ABSTRACT Dating apps are spaces where masculinities are communicated digitally, affecting inequalities around gender expressions. This study aims to identify the masculinities communicated within Grindr tourism interactions in Tel Aviv and analyze how masculinities shape relations among international tourists and locals. Methods consist of interviews and audio diaries with nineteen tourist, local, and immigrant Grindr users in Tel Aviv. Theories of affordances, hegemonic masculinities, and relational sociology are used to analyze the data. In discussion of the results, the concept of mutual exoticization is put forth to interpret the social dynamics valued within Grindr tourism interactions, thereby revealing oppositional fantasies tied to nationalities and masculinities. The study also explores ethnicity’s association with social and erotic capital in digital circulations of a localized Mizrahi masculinity. Findings reveal that while hegemonic masculinities are circulated on Grindr, resistance is also a part of Grindr tourism relations around masculinities. This research concludes by shedding light on masculinity inequalities within digital spaces where different nationalities co-congregate, revealing everyday negotiations of gender regimes. Grindr is the site of both reproduction of and resistance to social inequalities around masculinities.