Masculine Role Research Articles

Emphasizing the Communal Demands of a Leader Role Makes Job Interviews Less Stressful for Women But Not More Successful

AbstractThe cultural construal of leadership as masculine impedes women’s attainment of leader roles. This research examined whether adding feminine demands to a leader role relieved the greater stress experienced by women than men in a job interview for a leadership position and considered the processes that mediated women’s less favourable interview outcomes. In a hiring simulation, management students (N = 209; 112 women, 97 men) interviewed for a leader role framed by either stereotypically feminine or masculine role requirements. As shown by the stress biomarker salivary cortisol, the feminine role framing alleviated women’s, but not men’s, physiological stress response during the interview. However, under both masculine and feminine role framing, women, compared with men, reported lesser fit, expected poorer interview performance, appraised greater threat relative to challenge, and evaluated their performance less favourably, as did external raters. An additional vignette study (N = 305; 189 women, 111 men, 5 diverse) found that the feminine role framing increased the leader role’s communal demands but still conveyed strong agentic demands not different from those of the masculine role. In conclusion, although a feminine role framing alleviated women’s physiological stress response, it did not change their less favourable outcomes, as indicated by participants’ self-reports and others’ reports.

From men's violence to an ethic of care: Ecofeminist contributions to green criminology

Green criminology has made important contributions to criminological inquiry by highlighting the destructive impact of humans on the more-than-human world. However, it often adopts a gender-neutral lens that overlooks the disproportionate role of men and masculinities in perpetrating green harms. This paper places green criminology into critical dialogue with ecofeminism, arguing that harms against the environment and nonhuman animals are inextricably gendered and should be understood as interconnected forms of men's violence. Ecofeminist insights reveal that violence against the more-than-human world is rooted in hierarchical dualisms, whereby humans are placed separate from and above nature, and the masculine is defined as superior to the feminine. This hierarchical logic enables men to view others in detached, instrumental ways and serves to legitimise acts of men's violence. But just as ecofeminism provides green criminologists with a productive framework for understanding men's violence against the environment and nonhuman animals, it also provides a means of moving beyond this violence. It does this by advocating for an ethic of care that unravels hierarchical modes of thinking and promotes more harmonious relationships between humans and the more-than-human world. By building caring, egalitarian relationships with other living beings (and with their own emotional selves), it is harder for men to act in violent, dominating ways towards others, providing the foundation for more sustainable, interdependent ways of being.

An ERP-based comparison of gender representations elicited by generic masculine role nouns and the German gender star form

There is an ongoing debate about the linguistic gender forms that should be used to elicit fair mental representations of all genders. While most languages with grammatical gender traditionally use the masculine form to refer to people in a gender-independent way, numerous empirical studies have demonstrated that this form leads to a male bias in mental representations. In German, the so-called gender star form has been proposed as an alternative to the masculine form, aimed at better representing persons with nonmale gender identities. To provide empirical data on this claim, we compared the neural processing mechanisms elicited by the gender star form with those elicited by the generically intended masculine form during reference resolution. Participants in the present ERP study read sentence pairs in which a group of people was introduced with a role noun in one of the two gender forms and then revealed to be partly comprised of men or women. Following the masculine form, anaphoric references to women (vs. men) resulted in an increased ERP amplitude in the P600 range. In contrast, following the gender star form, the P600 amplitude was increased for references to men (vs. women), albeit in a slightly different spatio-temporal range. The present data thus indicate that the gender star form and the generically intended masculine form impose partially different demands on the syntactic operations performed by the brain during reference resolution but that, in the end, neither form elicits gender-balanced mental representations of men and women in German.

Cultivating a culture of intervention: Bystander programs and the prevention of sexual violence

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of bystander intervention programs in preventing sexual violence, with a focus on the role of masculinity and cultural factors. The review synthesizes findings from six studies, employing a mixed-methods approach to analyze quantitative and qualitative data. The results highlight the significance of bystander intervention in preventing sexual violence, particularly among young people. The studies demonstrate that programs targeting men and boys, addressing traditional masculinity norms, and promoting empathy and prosocial behavior are effective in reducing sexual violence. Cultural factors, such as social norms and community engagement, also play a crucial role in shaping bystander behavior. The review concludes that bystander intervention programs have the potential to create a culture of empathy and action, but require careful consideration of cultural context and nuances. The findings have implications for the development of effective prevention strategies and highlight the need for further research in this area. By understanding the complexities of bystander behavior, we can work towards creating safer and more supportive communities for all individuals.

Gender vs. personality: The role of masculinity in explaining cognitive style

Cognitive style (reflective vs. intuitive) as measured with cognitive reflection tests (CRTs) is an important driver of financial decision-making and the rationality of individual behavior. Prior studies explain CRT score differences by gender, stipulating that women are more intuitive and less reflective than men. Recent work, however, raises doubts about such gender differences, suggesting that CRT score differences stem from gender-related role and personality instead. Accordingly, using survey data from 504 Belgian respondents, we examine which of these two individual difference factors better explains CRT scores. The results indicate that, on average, women indeed have a lower reflective cognitive style and a higher intuitive cognitive style. However, this effect is not only explained by gender per se, but also by self-perceived gender role and personality, that is, perceived masculinity. Indeed, perceived masculinity moderates the effect of gender, so that masculine females have higher reflective and lower intuitive CRT scores.

Incident, Individual, and Campus Factors Associated with Cisgender Men’s Post Sexual Victimization Formal Help Seeking

ABSTRACT Introduction: This study explored factors associated with help seeking among cisgender men college and university students who experienced sexual victimization. Methods: We used multilevel logistic regression on data from 33 campuses (n = 4,474 students, 4,674 incidents) to model the association between cisgender men’s help seeking and incident, individual, and campus factors. Results: Incident, individual, and campus factors were associated with help seeking odds. Some factors were associated with increased help seeking odds (e.g. perpetrator in a position of power, being gay or having a disability, campus-level racial diversity), others with decreased odds (e.g. drinking before an incident). Conclusions: Findings have implications for programs and policies. Future studies should attend to the roles of masculinity, power, and campus contexts.

Understanding the Role of Masculinity through the Perspectives of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Intervention Practitioners Engaged in Men’s (de)Radicalization

Within the field of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) male clients are overwhelmingly represented, which reflects the key and complex significance ‘masculinity’ has for understanding susceptibility to violent extremism, processes of radicalisation and related issues. This article analyses the perspectives of 12 CVE Intervention Practitioners (n = 8 female, n = 4 male) in Australia and their views on the role gender plays in their work. We focus on the practitioners’ experiences with male clients and how they understood the relationship between gender, rapport building and (de)radicalization. The practitioners highlight how a common aspect of their clients’ ideology involved either explicit misogyny or quite rigid opinions regarding the roles of men and women in society. They often mentioned their male clients experienced difficulties in expressing and understanding their own masculinity. However, while it is important to identify commonalities within the gendered dynamics present in CVE work, the data suggest the interaction between practitioner and client continues to be quite varied. We argue that this highlights not only how masculinities are discursively produced, but how male clients may shift between identity positions during deradicalization depending on their interpersonal interactions.

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.

Masculine Threat and Stigma: Barriers to Help-Seeking for Gay and Bisexual Men Survivors

Sexual assault and abuse have detrimental impacts on gay and bisexual (GB) men’s mental health. Nevertheless, many GB men survivors avoid seeking services due to concerns about non-affirming treatment from mental-health professionals and negative perceptions of masculinity if one seeks help for sexual trauma. This study investigated the impact of anticipated sexual assault stigma from mental-health professionals and masculine threat (the degree to which not feeling masculine lowers self-esteem) on help-seeking self-stigma among GB men survivors (N = 99). Both anticipated stigma and masculine threat associated with greater self-stigma of seeking help. When examining gay and bisexual men separately, anticipated stigma and masculine threat were significant for bisexual men, whereas anticipated stigma was the only significant variable for gay men. Implications discuss increasing attention toward the role of masculinity and anticipated stigma in help-seeking for sexual-minority men survivors and examining the unique experiences of these two populations rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

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.

Generic masculine role nouns interfere with the neural processing of female referents: evidence from the P600

ABSTRACT The masculine form in German is used to refer to male people specifically and to people of any gender generically. While behavioural research has demonstrated that this dual function leads to male-biased responses, the neural underpinnings of this bias are still underexplored. In the present EEG study, we investigated how the presentation of generically intended masculine role nouns (vs. role nouns in the feminine–masculine and masculine–feminine pair form) affected the neural processing of references to men and women. Referring to women after generic masculine role nouns induced difficulties during perceptual processing in the P200 range and, crucially, also during high-level reference resolution, as indicated by an enhanced P600 amplitude over posterior sites. In contrast, no significant processing conflicts were observed after the pair form. These findings illuminate the neural consequences of grammatical gender and support the notion that the generic masculine does not represent different genders equally well.

Critique of Vijay Tendulkar Plays with a Special Reference on Kanyadaan and Sakharam Binder

This paper is a sum up of Vijay Tendulkar’s works and gives us a gist of his works. This project will tell us about the complicated relationship between their society and mental distortion. It explores the role of masculinity in our society. This paper will briefly discuss the portrayal of women characters in Vijay Tendulkar’s play. The family, personal, political, and social environments that Vijay Tendulkar’s plays depict lead to a great deal of violence against the characters- physically, sexually, psychologically, and verbally. Tendulkar’s play represents middle-class life, and because of his deeply held beliefs, the men in his plays frequently treat their female counterparts brutally. The paper’s conclusions discuss how the female protagonists overcome their unfavorable environment to become strong, and, independent people.

Female Animal Characters in Roald Dahl’s Children’s Books: A Misogynistic Portrayal

Children’s literature introduces children to the world, stimulates their imagination, and mirrors the society they live in by reproducing its social rules and accepted norms. This is especially true with gender stereotypes, which display and reinforce the masculine and feminine roles constructed by a given society. This binary, onedimensional, and conventional representation is harmful as it negatively impacts young readers’ apprehension of gender roles as well as their personality, behaviour, and aspirations for the future. World-renowned children’s author Roald Dahl has recently been criticised as a controversial author and a racist, misogynistic person. By adopting a feminist literary critical approach, this study analyses Dahl and his illustrator Quentin Blake’s portrayal of female anthropomorphic characters, generally neglected by previous researchers in favour of human characters, in four books: James and the Giant Peach (1961), The Magic Finger (1966), Fantastic Mr Fox (1970), and The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me (1985). Female characters are weak, inactive, confined indoors, and constantly belittled by their male counterparts who are portrayed as adventurous and as decision makers. Therefore, this study aims to encourage parents and educators to teach young learners to read children’s books with a critical eye to identify and interpret different stereotypical representations.

Challenging gender stereotypes: representations of gender through social interactions in English learning textbooks

This study explores the representation of gender through the social interactions presented in four sets of English textbooks used in China. By examining the representation of both gender stereotypes and changing roles, the results reveal that although traditional stereotypes exist in Chinese secondary school-level English textbooks, women’s changing social roles are acknowledged in that they are now beginning to be shown engaging in non-traditional female jobs. However, in family scenarios, women are still depicted as taking sole responsibility for housekeeping duties without any participation from adult males, showing the incomplete transformation of gender roles. No male characters are shown participating in non-traditional jobs, which reinforces the idea of the masculine role being ‘superior’ to feminine or non-masculine roles. The continued presence of gender stereotypes shows textbook editors’ tacit agreement with the gender norms. Drawing on gender as a fluid concept and social interactions of gender, this study acknowledges the variety and diversity of inputs of gender roles through social interactions in the learning community and suggests that students can be given access to a more gender-progressive education by improving the quality of social interactions between genders in textbooks and presenting a more equal view on gender roles.

Taming Muslim Masculinity: Patriarchy and Christianity in German Immigrant Integration

This article analyzes a growing sector of state-funded pedagogies designed to reform Muslim masculinity in Germany. These programs present Muslim men as suffering from a psychopathology rooted in an alleged Islamic “honor culture”. They rely on a mix of Christian and non-religious welfare providers to supply Muslim youth with alternative masculine role models. We trace three implications of this arrangement: First, these programs' culturalist approach perpetuates Orientalist hierarchizations of masculinity. Second, the de-Islamized masculinity these programs construct as normatively binding revolves around a heteronormative patriarchy imagined as benevolent, thereby reinforcing the subjection of women. Third, these educational initiatives yoke the reform of Muslim masculinity to male participants' dramatic conversion to a Christian-German culture that blurs the line between the religious and the nonreligious. We suggest that studies of (hegemonic) masculinity in Europe ought to attend to the salience of the nation-state and to the public relevance of Christianity—two dimensions given short shrift in recent theorizing.

The Relationship Between Sex-roles and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction

This research delves into the intricate interplay between gender roles and relationship satisfaction within romantic partnerships, with a nuanced exploration of masculinity, femininity, and androgyny. Drawing upon a comprehensive review of literature, including seminal studies such as those by Spitzberg and Cupach (2019), Bem (1993), Thompson and Pleck (1986), and Bem (1974), the study aims to elucidate the association between traditional gender roles and relationship contentment, while considering the emergence of androgynous traits in contemporary relationships. Synthesizing findings from these seminal works, the research endeavors to highlight how adherence to traditional sex roles, defined by societal expectations of masculinity and femininity, may influence the level of satisfaction experienced within romantic relationships. Spitzberg and Cupach's (2019) study explores the influence of traditional gender roles on relationship satisfaction, suggesting that adherence to stereotypical masculine and feminine roles can contribute to conflict and dissatisfaction within partnerships. Building upon this, Bem (1993) proposes the concept of androgyny as an alternative to traditional gender roles, suggesting that individuals who possess a blend of both masculine and feminine traits may experience greater relationship satisfaction and flexibility. Thompson and Pleck (1986) further examine the concept of androgyny, emphasizing its potential to enhance intimacy and communication within romantic relationships by transcending rigid gender stereotypes. Moreover, Bem (1974) introduced the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI), a widely used measure for assessing individuals' gender roles, which has been instrumental in understanding the complexities of gender identity and its impact on relationship dynamics. By integrating insights from these diverse scholarly sources, the research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how gender roles intersect with relationship satisfaction, offering valuable implications for couples, therapists, and policymakers. Additionally, the study explores the implications of masculinity, femininity, and androgyny on various aspects of relationship satisfaction, including communication, intimacy, and conflict resolution. Through an analysis of empirical research, the study aims to elucidate the mechanisms through which adherence to traditional gender roles or the adoption of androgynous traits may shape relationship dynamics and contentment. Furthermore, the research considers contextual factors such as cultural norms, socioeconomic status, and relationship duration, which may moderate the association between gender roles and relationship satisfaction. Ultimately, this study seeks to shed light on the evolving nature of romantic relationships in contemporary society, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and accommodating a spectrum of gender expressions for fostering healthier and more fulfilling partnerships. By acknowledging the complexities of gender identity and its impact on relationship dynamics, the research aims to inform interventions and policies aimed at promoting relationship satisfaction and well-being across diverse populations.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: The Evolution of Masculinity in Geri-action and Its Implications for Male Hegemony

In 2023, a new adventure film called Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny premiered in theaters around the globe. In this film, Harrison Ford returns to his iconic role as Indiana Jones, showcasing a new perspective on action-packed adventures with seasoned heroes, which brings forth exciting new possibilities. Examining Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, this study delves into the development of masculinity in older action heroes, highlighting how these seasoned protagonists can challenge traditional notions of male hegemony. The study employs discourse analysis to examine the portrayal of Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones and draws comparisons to previous iterations and other characters within the genre. This analysis highlights the film's departure from conventional portrayals of masculinity, indicating a movement towards dismantling gender norms and challenging male hegemony. The analysis highlights the importance of older heroes in portraying changing perspectives on masculinity and male roles in today's society. This study presents a fresh outlook on gender studies, highlighting the importance of portraying masculinity in film in a more nuanced way. It advocates for breaking away from traditional norms and promoting diversity in storytelling and character development.

Men are victims of violence: Social representations, machismo and gender stereotypes

Background: Violence, as a phenomenon, affects both men and women in Colombia. According to reports from The National Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, 51% of violence cases are concentrated in men without this translating into specific government actions or investigations focusing their attention on this group. Background usually focuses its attention on the man as the perpetrator, hiding his role as a victim and diminishing his value as a subject of study, which is why there is little research literature on this phenomenon. Objective: This research analyzes the social representations of men regarding their role as victims of violence and its implications in the perpetuation of gender and machismo stereotypes, as well as their main knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding violence against men. Method: Through a mixed methodological approach, interviews and polls were conducted in order to understand this construct. Results: It was found that men silent the fact that they are victims of violence in order to satisfy social expectations regarding the role that they must play in patriarchal structures. 82% of the participants feel pressured to exercise masculine roles, and a 79% have suffered sexual assault from another person. Conclusion: There is a formal understanding of machismo and the negative implications of its practice; however, its practices are admitted as valid and even as justifiable, so they are maintained and perpetuated with the associated stereotypes.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Thai Male Depression Risk Scale (MDRS-TH)

Previous studies have reported that males frequently suffer from major depression. However, due to the norms of masculine roles, in which emphasis is placed in displaying strength, invulnerability, and control, the ways that some men exhibit depression may differ from traditional diagnostic symptoms of major depressive disorder. To this end, the Male Depression Risk Scale (MDRS) has been developed in order to better identify those men, who experience low moods and are at risk for suicide. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Thai version of the MDRS (MDRS-TH). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 600 participants, who were recruited through social media (male N=300). The average age was 38.74 years. About half of the participants were married (51.5%). The majority identified themselves as Buddhist (94.66%) and had completed postgraduate education (31.16%). The samples had a variety of occupations, including farmer, employee, student, retired, own business, etc. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and criterion-related validity using Pearson's correlation. The overall analysis (N=600) found that the MDRS-TH was consistent with the empirical data (CFI=0.918, TLI=0.905, SRMR=0.05, and RMSEA=0.05). The final model consisted of 5 components: 1) emotional suppression, 2) alcohol use, 3) anger & aggression, 4) somatic symptoms, and 5) risk-taking behaviors. The internal consistency of the MDRS-TH total score was 0.89, and the correlation criterion-related validity with the PHQ-9 was r=0.77. The results supported the fact that the MDRS-TH is a useful screening tool. Utilizing the MDRS-TH in primary care settings may assist to identify those men who are at risk for male-specific symptoms of depression so that early identification and intervention can be facilitated. In future studies, the generalizability of the scale would be strengthened if efforts to improve cross-cultural validation involving different cultural groups in Thailand were prioritized.

Preservation of Femininity in A. K. Summers’ Pregnant Butch

This study examines the depiction of femininity in the graphic novel Pregnant Butch by A. K. Summers. The novel follows the story of Teek, who is experiencing pregnancy as a butch lesbian for the first time. This article investigates Teek’s sustaining femininity throughout her pregnancy journey as a butch. A butch itself is a gender expression that holds a masculine role in lesbian relationships. The researchers took the data of this analysis is taken by reading the graphic novels thoroughly, approaching the analysis from Teek's perspective, compiling a list of dialogues and interactions, and categorizing the collected data into specific themes. Using a qualitative method, the researchers in this analysis underline the uniqueness between masculinity and femininity illustrated in the graphic novel. In conclusion, Teek's experience of femininity during pregnancy enriches her butch identity, emphasizing her ability to balance both masculine and feminine aspects of herself. The study highlights the significance of feminine elements in Teek's unwavering expression of femininity.