Masculine Men Research Articles

Still a Hetero-Gendered World: A Content Analysis of Gender Stereotypes and Romantic Ideals in Chinese Boy Love Stories

Boy’s Love (BL) stories are a fictional fantasy textual story that describes a romantic relationship between men. Previous qualitative studies claimed that BL stories have depicted androgynous characters and egalitarian love relationships. The current study undertook a quantitative content analysis of 87 randomly sampled popular Chinese BL stories. Our coding system for coding both the masculinity and femininity of each main character in the selected BL stories was developed based on several previous studies. Gay male characters in BL stories were depicted as either similar to traditional masculine men (i.e., scoring high in masculinity and low in femininity) or similar to traditional feminine women (i.e., scoring high in femininity and low in masculinity). In the romantic relationships, BL stories typically paired a masculine character with a feminine character. In addition, heterosexual romantic ideals were prevalent in BL stories. Such an analysis challenges the previous analysis of BL stories. It suggests that heteronormative gender stereotypes exist in BL stories, even if these stories depict gay male characters and romantic relationships. These findings have important implications for understanding media effects in stereotypes toward gay men in contemporary Chinese society. It also encourages further research on alternative explanations for women’s motivation in reading and writing BL stories.

Young working-class men do not read: or do they? Challenging the dominant discourse of reading

ABSTRACTIn the majority of the research on boys’ and young men’s relation to reading, it is argued that boys and young men read too little, read poorly and in all the wrong ways. However, few studies focus on how boys and young men read the texts they do encounter. In particular, there is a lack of research on young men of working-class background, whose relationship to reading is stressed as particularly problematic in many studies. In this article, we approach the reader histories of three young working-class men from a life story perspective, on the basis of a broad definition of text and reading, to capture how reading and texts are used in their identity construction. Our analysis shows that the young men engage in reading in different ways, from listening to audio books and reading aloud to watching films. We argue that our approach makes it possible to re-envision working-class men as readers who, among other things, use reading to construct softer masculinities, thus challenging the dominant narrative of working-class masculinity and working-class men’s relationship to reading and texts.

'It's like taking a bit of masculinity away from you': towards a theoretical understanding of men's experiences of infertility.

In the UK, nearly half of all cases of infertility involve a 'male-factor'. Yet, little empirical work has explored how men as men negotiate this terrain. Three interrelated concepts; 'hegemonic masculinity', 'embodied masculinity' and the linkages between 'masculinities' and male help-seeking, provide the theoretical framework that guided a qualitative study conducted with 22 men experiencing infertility. The paper explores men's propensity to delay their help-seeking in relation to infertility despite their desire for children. It also demonstrates how, in the context of infertility, the male body can be defined as both a failed entity in itself (unable to father a child) and a subordinated social entity (unable to measure up to hegemonic ideals) that characterises men's masculine identities. The paper also illustrates how men appear willing to accept responsibility for their infertility and adopt aspects of hitherto subordinate masculine practice. This does not, however, constitute the total unravelling of well understood and accepted expressions of masculinity. Finally, the paper demonstrates how infertility is perceived as having the potential to fracture current and even future relationships. Moreover, regardless of how well men measured up to other hegemonic ideals, ultimately they can do little to counteract the threat of other (fertile) men.

Do Masculine Men Smell Better? An Association Between Skin Color Masculinity and Female Preferences for Body Odor

A recent study claimed face skin color as a sexually dimorphic variable that influences attractiveness preferences in mate choice. Thereby, skin color may assume the role of a mate quality signal influencing attractiveness preferences. As body odor is linked to attractiveness, this study aimed to explore whether the odors of men with more masculine facial skin color would be evaluated more positively than odors from less masculine men. Female raters were presented with body odors of 18 men and were asked to rate them in various characteristics. Multilevel modeling revealed that the odors of the donors with more masculine color were rated not only as more attractive, more pleasant, and sexier, but also healthier. This indicates that odor associated with men with more masculine skin color is attractive, just as other sexually dimorphic traits. Furthermore, we found a negative relation between skin color masculinity and perceived odor maleness. Regarding this last finding, a new discussion is introduced with respect to the influence of cognitive stereotypes in odor judgments. Altogether, the study supports the possibility that chemosensory signals may be communicating signs of mate quality associated with masculinity.

American Men and Romance Tourism: Searching for Traditional Trophy Wives as Status Symbols of Masculinity

Increasing numbers of American men, as well as men in Western Europe, Canada, and Australia, are engaging in travel across seas in search of traditional brides. While it may seem obvious to people that women participating in the international introduction industry can potentially increase their wealth and status by marrying an American man and migrating to the United States, what is less obvious is the status increase that men receive from these marriages. This study adds to recent scholarship on the history of intimacy and the development of a new form of intimate relationship dominating western societies. Through the study of men involved in the international introduction industry, I illustrate the importance of what I term the labor of selflessness, and how women's emotional labor increases men's masculine status in transnational marriages.

The influence of hormone replacement therapy on mating psychology among post-menopausal women

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a popular treatment for menopause-related symptoms and is associated with increased well-being and sexual function. Researchers have investigated the effects of synthetic hormones within hormonal contraceptives on preferences for masculine men, and on behaviors directed towards male partners. Yet, no studies have examined the impact of synthetic hormones in HRT on mate preferences or mate-directed behavior among post-menopausal women. Here we tested the influence of HRT on women's reported sexual motivation, partner-directed behaviors (i.e., jealousy and mate retention behaviors), and mate preferences. Post-menopausal women (N=213) responded to an online survey and completed a two-alternative, forced-choice face preference task where they rated the attractiveness of male images manipulated in sexual dimorphism. We found that HRT use was positively associated with sexual satisfaction, attitudes towards unrestricted sex, and sexual interest towards extra-pair men. There were no differences between users versus non-users in partner-directed behavior or masculinity preferences. This study highlights the need for further investigations into hormonal influences on mate preferences and behavior among post-menopausal women.

‘You aren’t from around here’: race, masculinity, and rural transgender men

Both scholarly and everyday understandings of transgender people tend to assume that they can only live well in urban places, yet there is little research on the transgender people actually living in rural communities. This article uses an intersectional analysis of 45 interviews conducted between 2010 and 2013 with transgender men living in the Southeast and Midwest United States to understand how some rural transgender people may not necessarily and automatically fare worse than those in cities. Indeed, these data demonstrate that a more productive question might be, which transgender people integrate into rural communities? The reported experiences of trans men suggest that the claims to sameness that are crucial to inclusion in rural communities are articulated centrally through whiteness and enacting appropriate rural working-class heterosexual masculinities. The claim to sameness allows for a measure of acceptance in rural communities under economic and demographic strain in the twenty-first century.

Covering: Mutable Characteristics and Perceptions of Voice in the U.S. Supreme Court

The emphasis on “fit” as a hiring criterion has raised the spectrum of a new form of subtle discrimination (Yoshino 1998; Bertrand and Duflo 2016). Under complete markets, correlations between employee characteristics and outcomes persist only if there exists animus for the marginal employer (Becker 1957), but who is the marginal employer for mutable characteristics? Using data on 1,901 U.S. Supreme Court oral arguments between 1998 and 2012, we document that voice-based snap judgments based on lawyers’ identical introductory sentences, “Mr. Chief Justice, (and) may it please the Court?”, predict court outcomes. The connection between vocal characteristics and court outcomes is specific only to perceptions of masculinity and not other characteristics, even when judgment is based on less than three seconds of exposure to a lawyer’s speech sample. Consistent with employers irrationally favoring lawyers with masculine voices, perceived masculinity is negatively correlated with winning and the negative correlation is larger in more masculine-sounding industries. The first lawyer to speak is the main driver. Among these petitioners, males below median in masculinity are 7 percentage points more likely to win in the Supreme Court. Justices appointed by Democrats, but not Republicans, vote for less- masculine men. Female lawyers are also coached to be more masculine and women’s perceived femininity predict court outcomes. Republicans, more than Democrats, vote for more feminine-sounding females. A de-biasing strategy is tested and shown to reduce evaluators’ tendency to perceive masculine voices as more likely to win. Perceived masculinity explains 3-10% additional variance compared to the current best prediction model of Supreme Court votes.

Being ‘Like a Woman’: Fa’afāfine and Samoan Masculinity

Fa’afāfine are Samoan males who enact varying degrees and types of feminine behaviour. In this paper I draw on ethnographic data from both Western Samoa and Aotearoa/New Zealand and argue that while femininity is often presented as the defining feature of fa’afafine identities, masculinity is also a consequential component of what it means to be fa’afafine. The ways in which fa’afāfine are understood as gendered is a complex and sometimes contradictory intersection of ‘males’, ‘men’, ‘not-men’, ‘not-women’ and ‘like women’. However, rather than being a ‘third gender’ I suggest that fa’afāfine sit ‘across’ the binary that typifies the Samoan gender framework, simultaneously embodying masculinity and femininity. I then outline how Westernisation and migration have affected this embodiment. For some individuals, this has resulted in a greater repudiation of masculinity and conformity to heteronormative femininity, while for others it has allowed them to identify as both ‘fa’afafine’ and ‘masculine men’.

Global Epidemiology of HIV Infection and Related Syndemics Affecting Transgender People.

Introduction:Transgender populations have been underrepresented in HIV epidemiologic studies and consequently in HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs. Since 2012, there has been a dramatic increase in research focused on transgender people. Studies highlight the burden of HIV and risk determinants, including intersecting stigmas, as drivers of syndemics among transgender populations. This review synthesizes the most recent global epidemiology of HIV infection and describes current gaps in research and interventions to inform prioritization of HIV research for transgender populations.Methods:A systematic review was conducted of the medical literature published between January 1, 2012 and November 30, 2015. The data focused on HIV prevalence, determinants of risk, and syndemics among transgender populations.Results:Estimates varied dramatically by location and subpopulation. Transfeminine individuals have some of the highest concentrated HIV epidemics in the world with laboratory-confirmed prevalence up to 40%. Data were sparse among trans masculine individuals; however, they suggest potential increased risk for trans masculine men who have sex with men (MSM). No prevalence data were available for transgender people across Sub-Saharan Africa or Eastern Europe/Central Asia. Emerging data consistently support the association of syndemic conditions with HIV risk in transgender populations.Discussion:Addressing syndemic conditions and gender-specific challenges is critical to ensure engagement and retention in HIV prevention by transgender populations. Future research should prioritize: filling knowledge gaps in HIV epidemiology; elucidating how stigma shapes syndemic factors to produce HIV and other deleterious effects on transgender health; and understanding how to effectively implement HIV interventions for transgender people.

REPRESENTASI MASKULINITAS BOYBAND SHINEE DALAM VIDEO KLIP RING DING DONG MELALUI ANALISIS SEMIOTIKA

In the ranks of K-pop industry, boyband group Shinee certainly not unfamiliar anymore. Since it was formed in 2008, they have received many awards in music’s field. One of their single is championed tittled Ring Ding Dong was released digitally on October 14 th 2009.In the video clip of Ring Ding Dong, described a collection of masculine men who dance vigorously. As well as body shape, accessories, and costume that they wear are very supports the actions of their masculine appearance. In other words, In other words, it can be said that the description of the man in the video clip leads to a masculine man with all the attributes of masculinity, but does not leave a gentle attitude, charisma and their prestige.Therefore, if you see this, the important point in this research is to analyze the representations of masculinity in the video clip boyband Shinee Ring Ding Dong through analysis Semiotics. Semiotic models are models that researchers use semiotics of Roland Barthes. Barthes developed two levels of sign (staggered systems) which allows to generates also meanings stratified, namely the level of denotation and connotation.Meanwhile, the results of this study indicate that masculinity is represented by the personnel of Shinee in the video clip Ring Ding Dong is manifold. Some of the scene showed a new concept of masculinity (the concept of “new man”), but some are still a traditional masculinity. When speaking of new concepts of masculinity, it can do a redefinition of the concept of masculinity, namely the concept of masculine brought by the image of the idol appeared in the mass media.

Straight until proven gay: A systematic bias toward straight categorizations in sexual orientation judgments.

Perceivers achieve above chance accuracy judging others' sexual orientations, but they also exhibit a notable response bias by categorizing most targets as straight rather than gay. Although a straight categorization bias is evident in many published reports, it has never been the focus of systematic inquiry. The current studies therefore document this bias and test the mechanisms that produce it. Studies 1-3 revealed the straight categorization bias cannot be explained entirely by perceivers' attempts to match categorizations to the number of gay targets in a stimulus set. Although perceivers were somewhat sensitive to base rate information, their tendency to categorize targets as straight persisted when they believed each target had a 50% chance of being gay (Study 1), received explicit information about the base rate of gay targets in a stimulus set (Study 2), and encountered stimulus sets with varying base rates of gay targets (Study 3). The remaining studies tested an alternate mechanism for the bias based upon perceivers' use of gender heuristics when judging sexual orientation. Specifically, Study 4 revealed the range of gendered cues compelling gay judgments is smaller than the range of gendered cues compelling straight judgments despite participants' acknowledgment of equal base rates for gay and straight targets. Study 5 highlighted perceptual experience as a cause of this imbalance: Exposing perceivers to hyper-gendered faces (e.g., masculine men) expanded the range of gendered cues compelling gay categorizations. Study 6 linked this observation to our initial studies by demonstrating that visual exposure to hyper-gendered faces reduced the magnitude of the straight categorization bias. Collectively, these studies provide systematic evidence of a response bias in sexual orientation categorization and offer new insights into the mechanisms that produce it. (PsycINFO Database Record

Reconsidering male bisexuality: Sexual activity role and sexual attraction in Samoan men who engage in sexual interactions with Fa’afafine.

In many non Western cultures, same-sex attracted males are markedly feminine in terms of their gender role presentation and are recognized as members of a gender. These third gender males engage in sexual activity with masculine males who are recognized as men. The sexual orientation of these masculine men remains an open question. Using a Samoan sample (N = 100), the current study employed measures of self-report and viewing time (a measure that assesses sexual interest based on the length of time individuals attend to stimuli images presented on a computer screen) to examine differences in patterns of sexual attraction among: (a) men who only engage in sexual interactions with women, (b) men who engage in sexual activity with third gender males (known locally as fa'afafine) but only receive fellatio, (c) men who both perform and receive fellatio with their fa'afafine sexual partner(s), and (d) fa'afafine, themselves. Inferential statistical analyses were used to compare groups. Our results indicate that these groups are distributed on a scale of sexual attraction ranging from primarily attracted to women to primarily attracted to men, respectively. These results suggest that male sexual orientation is a continuous trait, is tied to sexual activity role, and its expression is influenced by culture. Moreover, the present study highlights the importance of conducting quantitative, experimental research in non-Western cultures so as to garner a more comprehensive understanding of those aspects of sexuality that are universal and those that are cross-culturally variable.

“I think gorilla-like back effusions of hair are rather a turn-off”: ‘Excessive hair’ and male body hair (removal) discourse

Men's hair removal practices are becoming mainstream, seen as a consequence of changing masculine norms and men's relationships to their bodies. This is often presented as a straightforward ‘shift’ from men's ideal bodies as naturally hairy, to increased hairlessness, and the consequence on men's body concerns as inevitable. This paper analyses qualitative survey data from Aotearoa/New Zealand using critical thematic analysis, and describes three themes. Two themes capture contradictory ideas: that men's body hair is natural, and that men's body hair is unpleasant. A third theme introduces the concept of ‘excess’ hair, which allowed sense-making of this contradiction, mandating men's grooming of ‘excessive’ hair. However its vagueness as a concept may provoke anxiety for men resulting in hair removal. This paper adds to a body of research demonstrating a cultural transition: the ways changing masculinities, increased commodification of male bodies, and shifting gender roles impact on men's hair removal practices.

Attitude Toward Gay Men in an Italian Sample: Masculinity and Sexual Orientation Make a Difference

The present research investigates differences between heterosexuals and gay men in their attitudes toward effeminate and masculine gay men. More specifically, the role of internalized sexual stigma and perceived masculinity were considered to explain emotive reaction toward gay men with gender conforming and non-conforming behaviors. Results showed that effeminate gay men, that is those who enact gender non-conforming behaviors, elicited more negative emotions compared to masculine gay men both in gay and heterosexual respondents with no difference in intensity. Moreover, such negative reactions toward effeminate gay men were more extreme among gay men with high internalized sexual stigma and among heterosexuals with high self-perception of feminine traits. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Fat Gay Men: Girth, Mirth, and the Politics of Stigma by Jason Whitesel

Jason Whitesel, Fat Gay Men: Girth, Mirth, and the Politics of Stigma. New York: New York University Press, 2014. 192 pp.In Fat Gay Men, Jason Whitesel explores & Mirth, a social club for big gay men with chapters in many US cities. Drawing on fat studies, disability studies, research on performance, and the sociology of stigma, the author examines the club in order to understand how members of a doubly marginalized reconstruct their identities in the face of discrimination.Chapter 1 outlines the history and purpose of & Mirth. Originating in the 1970s, the organization serves multiple functions: as a social for members to find friends, a dining club, and a group (21) whose presence and activities challenge the stigmatization its members experience on an everyday basis. Whitesel refines Erving Goffman's (1963) concept of stigma through consideration of the performative strategies of carnival and camp that Girth & employ to reinterpret their lives and transform the wounds they receive from a world that fails to accept them as they are.In Chapter 2, Whitesel argues that big gay men experience a double form of stigma: first, from heteronormative society, which rejects them for being gay; and, second, from mainstream gay culture, which rejects them for being fat. In addition, they also experience shaming from mainstream heteronormative society simply because of their body size, such as when seeking health care or shopping for clothes. Furthermore, within gay culture, such stigmatization encompasses the fraught power relations of relationships, wherein big men enjoy the attentions of slimmer men, but also risk poor treatment as a result of their own admirers' shame for desiring fat men. Whitesel also addresses the stigmatization from other niche groups within gay culture, including bears (hirsute and often stereotypically masculine men), who allow the & Mirthers to hold functions in their spaces, but who nevertheless continue to marginalize the big men. Chapters 3 and 4 form the heart of the book, as they describe the performances that big gay men use to creatively disrupt the forms of stigmatization enumerated earlier. For example, Chapter 3 explores Super Weekend, an annual pan-Girth & Mirth meeting whose events center on sexual play, parties, and bawdy stage performances and contests. Here, the author offers a number of compelling examples of the event's carnivalesque character, including a creative method for selling raffle tickets in a long strip like a measuring tape, drawn suggestively around the buyer's body, effectively rewarding him for his girth with a larger number of tickets (65-66). Likewise, Whitesel offers examples of carnivalesque performance at & Mirth events. First, he discusses the Doorknob Award given to the attendee who slept with the greatest number of people during the weekend (74). Second, he recounts the story of a past stage performance in which an attendee rubbed his bare belly with barbeque sauce as a comment on mainstream society's disgust at piggy fat bodies (83). These two examples demonstrate how the & Mirthers use performance to flip the script on society's assumptions about the value and desirability of large men.In Chapter 4, Whitesel contrasts the overtly transgressive sexual nature of Super Weekend with Convergence, another annual pan-Girth & Mirth event with more conservative and mainstream components, including fashion shows and a high school-style prom. Such events, he argues, help repair the social injuries big men suffer by allowing them to partake in normalizing activities aimed at the development of upwardly mobile social class identities. Here, he also effectively argues for a more refined view of the chub/chaser dynamic, suggesting contexts in which it is, in fact, the chub who pursues the slim chaser since chasers are fewer in number and, therefore, in high demand. …

Masculinity and HIV: Dimensions of Masculine Norms that Contribute to Men's HIV-Related Sexual Behaviors.

Numerous studies have documented a relationship between masculine norms and men's HIV-related sexual behaviors, but intervening upon this relationship requires a nuanced understanding of the specific aspects of masculine norms that shape men's sexual behaviors. We integrate theories on masculinities with empirical HIV research to identify specific dimensions of masculine norms that influence men's HIV-related sexual behaviors. We identify three major dimensions of masculine norms that shape men's sexual behavior: (1) uncontrollable male sex drive, (2) capacity to perform sexually, and (3) power over others. While the existing literature does help explain the relationship between masculine norms and men's sexual behaviors several gaps remain including: a recognition of context-specific masculinities, an interrogation of the positive influences of masculinity, adoption of an intersectional approach, assessment of changes in norms and behaviors over time, and rigorous evaluations of gender-transformative approaches. Addressing these gaps in future research may optimize prevention efforts.

No country for girly men: High instrumentality men express empathic concern when caring is “manly”

Two studies explored the relationship between men’s gender role identity (as measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory) and their experience of empathic concern (situational empathy). In both, participants read of a man coping with his friend’s death while being exposed to one of three subliminal primes: “real men care”/“caring is strength,” “girly men care”/“caring is weakness,” or “people are walking.” Congruent with previous research, higher femininity (expressivity) predicted greater empathic concern irrespective of prime. The real men/strength primes tended to: (1) increase empathic concern among high instrumentality men; and (2) link empathic concern to predominantly positive projected coping responses when participants thought of themselves in the survivor’s situation, consistent with the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Thus, subtly framing empathic concern as a positive emotional response that is congruent with an agentic self-appraisal seems to boost traditionally masculine men’s willingness to experience it.

Male Features in the Political Discourse of Female Politicians

The article is devoted to the description of masculine manner of speech in the discourse of female politicians. Being mainly a field of male activity, politics has become the area of strict rules, perseverance, pertinacity and leadership. The main point in politics is struggle and tough competition of interests. In these conditions strict power qualities exacerbate, humanism disappears in actions and behaviour. This exact style is typical of men, and not women, hence if a woman goes into politics, she has to play according to male rules achieving tough and uncompromising manners of speech. Therefore, entering this complex sphere, women need to obtain analytical, logical, direct and unemotional way of thinking both for their activity and speech. These are necessary qualities for being a successful politician and a person, who will obtain fame, respect and love of citizens. The materials chosen for the analysis are the speeches of two famous women politicians of different periods: Margaret Thatcher and Condoleezza Rice. The main method of linguistic analysis is comparison, i.e. we choose certain parts from speeches of both politicians and try to find male characteristic features.

Identity and social challenges for persons with bleeding disorders: a gender and sex comparative approach

ABSTRACTBleeding disorders are genetic conditions which involve impaired blood clotting. This may lead to disability. The predominant symptoms usually differ depending on biological sex, which implicates that the disabling mechanisms of bleeding disorders are gendered. Here we review sex-specific symptoms from bleeding disorders and how they can disable gender identities. We found that men's masculinity can be compromized by sickliness, economic dependency and reduced ability to participate in sports and other risk-taking activities. Women's femininity, on the other hand, can be compromized by challenges related to their fertility and cultural misconceptions concerning menstrual hygiene. Both men and women with bleeding disorders experience a general lack of understanding in society at large regarding their unique problems. Women in particular are subject to late diagnosis and disbelief, due to a common misperception that bleeding disorders exclusively affect men. Theories on hegemonic masculinity and fem...