Nature Of Masculinity Research Articles

‘Shultsloze Ferpeynikte Neshomes’ – ‘Vulnerable, Tormented Souls’: Gendered Wounds, Sexualized Violence, and Jewish Masculinity in the Yiddish Testimonies of the Sonderkommando in Auschwitz-Birkenau

ABSTRACT This article focuses on an eyewitness account titled ‘Di 3000 Nakete’ – ‘The 3000 Naked Ones’ by Leyb Langfus, which is part of the Yiddish testimonies of the Sonderkommando. My case study aims to engage with the issues of gendered violence (sexualized, physical, psychological, and spiritual) and the male gaze. The article explores the dynamics between the male Sonderkommando members and the female prisoners, arguing that the men responded to the tormented women within the context of their Jewish masculinity. This response was ambiguous and contradictory, communicating their power as well as their despair and powerlessness. Narratives of Jewish masculinity during the Khurbm often neglect to evaluate the range of Jewish male victims’ responses and choices. In his text, Langfus aims to comprehend the mental and emotional conditions in which the Sonderkommando prisoners and the female prisoners found themselves, illustrating the interactions between the two groups. I argue that the Yiddish Sonderkommando testimonies exemplify the intricate and ambivalent nature of Jewish masculinity. They provide a complex example of how gender influences one’s understanding of acts of violence, including the roles of both perpetrators and victims. The responses of the Jewish male Sonderkommando challenge our current perceptions and assumptions about Jewish masculinity during the Khurbm.

Crossing troubled waters: building a bridge across gender divisions among water professionals in South Asia

This paper examines the reasons for the limited presence of women in the water sector in South Asia and reviews recent efforts at reversing this trend. The reasons for the under representation of women in the sector are the perceived masculine nature of the sector, gender-based discrimination at the work place, and the absence of gender sensitive working environment. A change in the curricula of water education programs from engineering-oriented programs to inter-disciplinary programs and the launch of new inter-disciplinary water resources education programs is likely to reverse this trend. Increased donor interest in this has given a push to such efforts. The launch of new initiatives and programs is likely to increase the number of women water professionals in the near future; however, given the large absolute numbers of men, these numbers would still relatively be low. Financial and administrative support to female students will be necessary to make the water sector more gender sensitive and gender balanced, along with creating conditions that would allow a better expression of women’s interests.

Homophobic beliefs and attitudes among mid-adolescent boys: exploring the ideas of hybrid masculinities.

Homophobia is well-documented as key to social regulation of masculine behavior and practices in Western settings. Yet, empirical data from a number of Western settings has shown a decline in overt homophobic attitudes in the past decade, leading some to suggest that the nature of masculinities is also changing. However, theorizing on the changing nature of masculinities among adolescents has received limited quantitative attention. Research is needed to better understand shifts in adolescent masculinities in contemporary Western settings. In this paper, we investigate the application of one newer approach to explore masculinities in context - hybrid masculinities - in a sample of cisgender, heterosexual, mid-adolescent boys in one province in Western Canada (N = 873, mean age (SD) = 14.39 (0.37)). Data were collected from nine cohorts of grade 9 youth over a 10-year period (2013-2022) as part of the baseline survey of an ongoing evaluation of a gender-transformative healthy relationships program. We hypothesized that if the ideas of hybrid masculinities held in our sample, we would find that overt homophobic attitudes and adherence to related patriarchal norms (e.g., avoidance of femininity) would decline over this period, but that the use of homophobic name-calling would remain differentiated in terms of to whom it was directed (e.g., a friend, someone they thought was gay). We did find a significant decline in homophobic attitudes and norms related to emotional restriction and avoidance of femininity over the 10-year period, but also found that homophobic name-calling remained differentiated, with significantly higher name-calling toward a friend than toward someone the youth thought was gay. Thus, our hypotheses were supported. We discuss the implications of our findings for future theory and research on understanding adolescent masculinities in context.

Exploring the Portrayal of Masculinity in Howard Jacobson’s The Finkler Question A Postmodern Perspective

This research article explores the portrayal of masculinity in Howard Jacobson’s novel, The Finkler Question, through a postmodern lens. It examines how the novel challenges traditional beliefs about masculinity and male identity, drawing on Jean-Francois Lyotard and Judith Butler to explore the fluid and contested nature of masculinity. Using textual analysis, the study focuses on themes of ageing, sexuality, and power in the portrayal of male characters and their relationships. The findings reveal that these characters navigate complex and contradictory identities, challenging conventional notions of masculinity. The novel critically reflects the socio-political context of contemporary Europe, highlighting diverse expressions of masculinity and the impact of societal expectations and traditional gender roles on male identity. Through its characters, the novel envisions a more inclusive and diverse understanding of male identity, emphasizing the fluid and evolving nature of masculinity. This study contributes to the ongoing discussion on gender and identity by demonstrating how The Finkler Question provides valuable insights into the nuanced nature of masculinity in contemporary Europe. The novel's critique of traditional masculinity underscores the need for a more inclusive understanding of male identity and highlights the importance of a postmodern perspective in grasping the fluid nature of masculinity in modern society.

Rethinking Masculinities: Challenging Hegemonic Norms and Embracing Diversity

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

Barriers to the use of mental health services amongst men in Nigeria and the potential of digital mental health support

ABSTRACT Objective Mental health problems are increasing. Nonetheless, the uptake of professional mental health support remains very low in Nigeria and other African countries, especially among men. This study explored the potential of digital mental health support in eliminating barriers to professional mental health services amongst men in Nigeria. Method Qualitative data were collected between July-August 2022 using an In-depth Interview (IDI) Guide with 24 men aged 18–38. NVivo 12 was employed to assist with the analysis. Results Digital mental health support has the potential to improve acceptance and uptake of professional mental health support services, reduce deterrent factors such as stigma, issues with confidentiality and trust, cost and availability. The use of digital support may also mitigate the nature of masculinity which deters some men from asking for help. Regulations around providing mental health support may improve men’s confidence in seeking professional mental health support. Conclusion Findings highlight the acceptability of digital mental health support for men, and the need for clinical practice regulations.

For All (Wo)mankind: Advancing a Feminist Critique of US Space Policy

Though significant attention has been paid to the early absence of women astronauts and the difficulty in reducing gender gaps there and in the broader fields of science, technology, engineering, and math fields, little analysis has been done of the ways in which gender influences space policy in the United States. This article argues that a feminist critique is not only necessary but also needs to be advanced in a more sustained manner. To do so, it outlines feminist arguments including those of feminist international relations theory and hegemonic masculinity theory. It then notes the few studies undertaken in this area highlighting the lack of recency and frequency in them. Then, it presents two cases of a feminist critique: the masculine nature of space power theory and the influence of hegemonic masculinity theory in the commercial space industry. It concludes with noting several different areas ripe for such feminist analysis as well as analyses focusing on the intersectional nature of the space domain.As the pace and speed of events in space continues to increase, this article highlights the importance of addressing these imbalances now before societal and power imbalances have the opportunity to reach beyond Earth orbit.

VARIATIONS OF ELEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL MEN'S DANCE («ZHOLBARYS ZHUREK» BASED ON A DANCE PERFORMANCE)

Abstract. Men's dance in the Kazakh dance art requires special attention in modern choreography. The development of dances for men, the scientific formulation of its history, and development trends are among the most pressing problems in modern dance art. Therefore, this scientific article is devoted to discussing the essence of the national dances of the Kazakh people, including dances for men, ways of their formation and development. The article is based on Almat Shamshiev's dance «Zholbarys zhurek» changes in the national men's dance elements were scientifically differentiated, and various scientific methods and receivers were used in scientific research. In order to determine the essence of men's dance, methods of historical and chronological systematization, differentiation, comparison, and control were used. In comparison, he tried to reveal the features of the dance of the guys through the dance the «Balbirauyn», and gave specific examples of what dance elements were added and what movements and postures were transformed according to the dance «Zholbarys zhurek». He concluded that the development of human consciousness, and the transformation of society are standard with the passage of time, and in this regard, new views appear in the art of dance, the release of new works, and the transformation of existing dance elements is a natural phenomenon and a modern necessity. Today, men who are engaged in the art of dance pay attention to the ability to flex, flexibility. It shows that some dance moves used only in girls ' dances in the past are successfully used in men's dances today. However, he says, in performing movements, the guys dance flexibly in a manner that corresponds to their masculine nature. However, he emphasizes that in making changes, it is necessary to constantly pay attention to Kazakh dances' essence and central national nature. Several recommendations were given on further developing Kazakh men's dance, increasing interest in it in society.

Intersectional Masculinities in Heteronormative Spaces: Exploring Power and Privilege amongst Gay Men in South Africa

This paper discusses the power differentials between various gay men that shape the construction of multiple unequal gay masculinities in South Africa. I argue that there is no single homogenous gay masculinity but multiple gay masculinities informed by various intersections that privilege some gay men while disadvantaging others. Considering the historical and continuing unequal racial divisions, class differences, power differentials, and gender normativity, this paper presents an intersectional analysis of three gay masculinities: White gay masculinity, Black middle-class gay masculinity, and Black working-class township gay masculinities. Intersections of race, gender, sexuality, class, and space shape power differentials amongst gay men in the same manner as heterosexual men, and through a review of literature, the paper demonstrates how intersectionality can help develop nuanced understandings of gay masculinities in South Africa. The paper highlights the need to interrogate the multifaceted nature of South African gay masculinities through an intersectional lens.

Punjabi masculinities and transnational spaces: Performance, choice and othering

AbstractThis article seeks to comprehensively understand student‐migrant men's identities and masculinities in transnational spaces in Canada. Building on existing literature on transnational masculinities, and partly on identity process theory, I focus on upper‐caste Punjabi men who came to Canada as international students. Through in‐depth interviews with 22 men, I explore the significance of landownership back home, caste identity and transnational communication in constituting the hegemonic masculinities in transnational spaces and the ‘othering’ within the Punjabi community faced by young men in Canada. By examining how young men respond to the complexities of source and host situation as well as their hegemonic content, I demonstrate the relational and fluid nature of hegemonic Punjabi masculinities. I conclude that even though the hegemonic ideal for men in transnational spaces remains to be the local rural masculinities based on landownership in Punjab, alternative strategies are put in place when that hegemonic ideal becomes difficult to achieve in transnational spaces or when there is a willing disinclination to achieve it such as in case of men who do not express a desire to return.

Softboys in the age of Millennial Masculinity

The last decade has witnessed the rise of a new type of Hollywood film star: the softboy. Actors including Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles all appeal to the stereotypical characteristics of this type—young, skinny, fashionable, clean-shaven, quirky, gentle and emotionally intelligent. By analysing a sample of mainstream media articles on the softboy published between 2015 and 2023, the following paper seeks to deepen our understanding of this influential internet type and the dominant stereotype of masculinity he undermines—what R. W. Connell termed hegemonic masculinity. More specifically, this paper explores the extent to which the softboy can be understood as the product of an overlapping matrix of demand from gay male and straight female film and television audiences. Within this matrix, the softboy emerges as the result of a delicate balancing act in which he avoids presenting either as too straight, too gay or too masculine. He achieves this balance through a range of strategies involving clothing choices, film role choices, choices about sharing his personal life with the public and a carefully curated public persona. Considering the softboy from a cultural materialist perspective, this paper argues that the affected personality traits and designed sexual ambivalence of the softboy can be understood as a response not of men themselves but of the entertainment industry to both the increased demand for this type from straight female audiences in the wake of the #MeToo movement and the increasingly recognised demand for this type from gay male audiences. For straight women, the softboy appears to have superseded the stereotype of the muscled, bearded, deep-voiced or emotionally unavailable man in the hierarchy of desire precisely because he resists being easily framed as an aggressor. Meanwhile, either by playing gay roles in films or pandering to a stereotypically gay aesthetic or set of behaviours, these actors appeal simultaneously to the gay male audience. This analysis therefore attempts to construe contemporary changes in the nature of masculinity as it is represented by the rise of the softboy film star in terms of fundamental changes in the market of desire.

Career progression of women auditors in Tanzania: coping with the masculinity in audit firms

PurposeThis paper examines the career progression of women auditors working in auditing firms in Tanzania and the strategies employed by women auditors to cope with the masculine nature of audit firms.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with current and former female and male auditors in two auditing firms. A thematic approach to the analysis is adopted.FindingsThe study reveals that career progression of women auditors studied is constrained by gender-related barriers such as motherhood, pregnancy, maternity leave and limited coaching and networking, as well as household and caring responsibilities. These barriers are facilitated by the patriarchal system, which regards women as wives and mothers rather than professional workers. As a result, women auditors balanced work and family responsibilities by employing various coping strategies including establishing informal network organization, hiring nannies, living with family members, enrolling children to boarding schools and lobbying in the allocation of audit assignments. Despite employing these strategies, very few women reach top positions in audit firms in Tanzania.Practical implicationsThe findings reveal a need for wider engagement on the role of women and men in society, particularly to address the gender-related barriers faced by women in the accountancy profession.Originality/valueMost previous studies of gender in the accountancy profession have focused on Western contexts. This is one of few to examine the phenomenon in an African context.

MASCULINITY CONUNDRUM AND HICCUPS IN MARJORIE OLUDHE’S COMING TO BIRTH

This paper interrogates the contradictions in the presentation of masculine identities in African literature and Kenyan literature in particular. This is done through a critical reading of Marjorie Oludhe’s Coming to birth. In the main, the paper examines the construction of masculinity in the society with a focus on gender roles, stereotypes, behaviour and general presentation of masculine qualities. In order to do this, the paper analyses how the rural and urban setups as presented in Coming to birth influence and alter the construction, maintaining and portrayal of masculinity as explored in the representative text. This approach allows for the interrogation of masculine behaviours and men’s struggle to perform masculine qualities and expectations fitting their identity. It is worth noting that the portrayal of male characters’ qualities in Coming to birth is marked by a level of frustration, anxiety, unfulfillment and hopelessness in the quest by men to show their masculine nature albeit elusive.

Men to Villains: Competitive Masculinity in The Lighthouse

This paper investigates the competitive nature of masculinity as presented in Robert Egger’s film The Lighthouse. Applying gender theory, I examine three crucial scenes in the film that demonstrate the two protagonists’ pursuit of ascendance, which manifests as their lust to possess the lamp of the lighthouse. Borrowing from the works of sociologists, anthropologists, and historians, I was able to understand the naturally recurring crises of masculinity that circulate around a hegemonic model of the masculine ideal, ultimately leading to competition between men to achieve said hegemony. The Lighthouse proves this enduring phenomenon through Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe’s volatile relationship and their brutal demise. While the film might not propose a direct solution, I argue it serves as a bleak reminder of how misogyny and toxic masculinity harm men and their relationships with one another.

The Political Economy of Hegemonic Masculinity: Race, Income, and Housework in the United States

Macrocultural dynamics of hegemonic masculinity complicate microeconomic negotiations. In this article, I examine hegemonic masculinity as an explanatory framework to understand how gendered work in households differs along income and race dimensions. I use Panel Study of Income Dynamics data to demonstrate how men of different race and income groups respond to their female partner out-earning them, an economic threat to masculinity. Results indicate that upper-income couples with White men have a strong aversion to the situation in which a woman out-earns her male partner. Middle-income White men follow suit, but lower-income White men, and Black men in most income groups, do not. I discuss how these findings relate directly to power, patriarchy, and the hegemonic nature of hegemonic masculinity. JEL Classification: B54, J15, J16

Cognitive Dissonance between a Conservative and a Liberal Gender Order: How Afghan Muslim Men Overcome the Impact of Migration on their Gender Identity in Canada

Previous research has shown that, after migration, some immigrant Muslim men experience a surge of marital conflicts—from the extent of their involvement in domestic labour, through challenges regarding the headship role of the household, to issues of divorce and child custody. In most cases, such conflicts surface against the background of a deeper conflict between the cultural gender norms in their old and new countries. There is, however, little research on how those immigrant Muslim men manage and respond to such emotional and relationship conflicts, setting the stage for stereotypical accounts based on some false Orientalist and neo-Orientalist assumptions. Based on 33 interviews with Afghan Muslim immigrant men and drawing on Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance as well as Berry’s typology of immigrant acculturation, this study shows the diversity of: (a) the issues over which such conflicts emerge; and (b) the responses the subjects develop vis-à-vis those conflicts. The findings provide the contours of a theoretical framework for understanding the changing and diverse nature of Muslim masculinity in future research.

Decentralization to municipalities and party control over women’s councils in Turkey: cultivating women’s political power or relegating them to the backyard?

ABSTRACT Women-specific political bodies provide a space for women-focused deliberation, gender analysis of policy, and women’s access to the decision-making process. Women’s councils are designed to act as decentralized mechanisms with the goal of increasing women’s representation in terms of diversity, inclusion, and responsiveness in the local governance of Turkey. The article, based on in-depth interview data, scrutinizes the capacities and limitations of women’s councils to enhance women’s representation in the case of women’s councils of Ankara, Turkey. It has been found that the financial ties of women’s councils to the municipalities, the male-dominated partisan character of political parties, and the gendered elite networks at the local level offer few alternatives for women “standing for, speaking for, and acting for” in these councils. These implicitly and explicitly harm the core rationale of women’s councils to make women and their diverse demands a visible part of the institutional identity in the local governance. Rather, such a structure serves to further reproduce the masculine nature of local politics. This article contributes to the literature on women’s representation and local politics by using empirical data from Turkey to assess whether alternative, women-only structures facilitate women’s representation and the conditions under which they can act.

Delineating Masculinity Belief in Guy de Maupassants’ Three Short Stories

This study aims to delineate masculinity issues in Guy Maupassant’s Father Milon, A Duel and The Coloniel’s Ideas short stories. This study sees that the practice of masculinity in the society legitimizes the dominant position of men and justifies the subordination of the male and female population in general and other marginalized ways of being male. This study employed Stuart Hall’s representation and Gramsci’s hegemony theories to delineate masculinity in Maupassants’ three short stories. The qualitative descriptive method was applied as the data were in the form of narration and dialogues. The short stories revealed the dominant position of men in society that justifies the subordination of the male and female population in general. Finally, with the creation of different male characters with various degree of masculine nature, Guy Maupassant in Father Milon, A Duel and The Coloniel’s Ideas tries to balance the male character he creates. Maupassant is just trying to paint pictures of different kinds the man seen in society, therefore, confirms the verisimilitude between characters in literary works and real-life characters.

Cognitive Dissonance between a Conservative and a Liberal Gender Order: How Afghan Muslim Men Overcome the Impact of Migration on Their Gender Identity in Canada

Previous research has shown that, after migration, some immigrant Muslim men experience a surge of marital conflicts-from the extent of their involvement in domestic labour, through challenges regarding the headship role of the household, to issues of divorce and child custody. In most cases, such conflicts surface against the background of a deeper conflict between the cultural gender norms in their old and new countries. There is, however, little research on how those immigrant Muslim men manage and respond to such emotional and relationship conflicts. Based on 33 interviews with Afghan Muslim immigrant men and drawing on Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance and Berry's typology of immigrant acculturation, this study shows the diversity of: (a) the issues over which such conflicts emerge; and (b) the responses the subjects develop vis-à-vis those conflicts. The findings provide the contours of a theoretical framework for understanding the changing and diverse nature of Muslim masculinity in future research.

Men and Masculinities in the Sagas of Icelanders

Men and Masculinities in the Sagas of Icelanders