The Concept of Hegemonic Masculinity - Essay Example

Masculinity Name: Course Instructor’s name Institution Date Masculinity The concept of hegemonic masculinity, formulated by Connell was commonly used. In the 20th century, men and masculinity were being considered as an academic field of research. And thereafter there was a need to support it by a string of conferences, the publication of textbooks and even journals (Connell, R. 1995 Masculinity is a set of attributes, roles and behaviors associated with boys and men. Though structured socially it is made up of both biologically and socially defined factors. Masculinity was there from the early years, and it was defined by set traits in a traditional context, those who were courageous and independent (Connell, R. 2003). Men are always considered the masculine type but one should understand that masculinity traits vary from one location to another, and they are mostly influenced by social and cultural factors. In the respect past, we have seen a surge in masculinity from celebrities more so the movie actors and actresses due to the high demand from society to have presentable individuals grace their screens. Footballers and musicians alike spend hours and hours in the gym just to define their masculinity. Masculinity is mostly associated with gender relations. Masculinity is believed to be fixed by God and women have no influence over it. Masculinity in men has brought about hegemonic masculinity that has been in existence from the 1980s and has been applied mostly when researching about men. Masculinity as a gender has a direct relationship with other systems such as race and ethnicity (Pleck, J. 1981). Cornell identifies different kinds of masculinities and argues that the most important thing is to examine the relationships between them and avoid a fixed typology of masculinities. There are different types of masculinities; white, black, bourgeois masculinity. Masculinity can be examined from a cultural perspective and the concept of hegemony masculinity state how one form of masculinity may take precedence as the preferred of masculinity and seeks to remain that way (Connell, R. 2003). Hegemonic masculinity can be sustained by overlapping between cultural ideal and institutional power. Hegemonic masculinity can be challenged by other forms of masculinity that may gain hegemonic power with time. Cornell argues that predominant subordination is the subordination of the homosexual masculinity over heterosexual masculinity having that hegemonic justifies how one dominant group rules over another. Cornell argues that there are different forms of masculinity, and some men may enjoy hegemonic masculinity without completely meeting the standards. Therefore, there should be cooperation between different groups and the participants in order to sustain it without necessarily belonging to it (Connell, R. 2003). Another form of relationship is marginalization in that one kind of masculinity usually oppresses the others like in athletics; African American athletes dominate over the other races hence turning them into the dominant group. Hegemony can be used as a model of cultural control and gender inequalities (Light, R., and D. Kirk. 2000). Over the years, we have seen women form groups because they feel like the male species is dominating over them having that they are the dominant group and enjoy most benefits that are associated with their masculinity. For example, the establishment of the women liberation movement to counter the dominance of men in the society. In the 19th century, there were studies being carried out to find out why masculinity was associated mostly with social discrimination. Culturally, traditional men were not allowed to show their emotions in public and were encouraged to pursue achievement and self-reliance (M. S. Kimmel, J. Hearn, and R. W. Connell. 2005). Research has over the years given an insight on the characteristics of masculinity and sexual differentiation. Masculinity brings about Power and difference although being male gay people have fought so long for recognition, and they are yet to be fully accepted into society. And some theories saw the gay liberation as an onslaught on sex stereotypes (Altman 1972). In our societies, we have seen criminal tendencies aimed at a certain group seeking recognition as the dominant group. For example in prisons, gangs comprise of the strong, and they constantly oppressing the weaker ones who are considered not to be masculine enough. Masculinity is mostly associated with the male sex and from various cultures of the world there seems to be a common understanding that men are the hegemonic group, and masculinity is culturally constructed. For example, if women start developing masculine features that are mostly associated with men like biceps and general body mass. There is an assumption that the changes are natural and not inborn and their driven culturally (Connell, R.2003). Cornell argues that men gained honor traditional by providing for their families and exercising leadership. Due to Cornell’s arguments researchers have come out to defend him by stating that manhood is not a status a man is born with rather he should strive to achieve it. Like in many cultures men undergo painful rituals in order to prove their masculinity and hence many will always respond to challenges on their manhood by engaging in stereotypically masculine behaviors like challenging for a fight (Winegard 2014). Cornell argues that masculinity is constituted in a social process and most people find it hard to tell who is more hegemonic between different movie stars and sports athletes, cultures have different contexts that they use to measure masculinity. Therefore, ideas and suggestions will always vary from one group to another. Masculinity has brought about sexual promiscuity in our societies, those who consider themselves more masculine and attractive have many partners in the society and celebrities can’t control some of their fans who make sexual advances. Curvy women have tempted many over the years, and well-built men have been known to have several partners, and they spend more time on their looks to attract more (M. S. Kimmel, J. Hearn, and R. W. Connell.2005). Masculinity is associated with a tendency of physical aggression in that those that have superior masculinity oppress the lesser ones. Men usually beat women hence an increase in domestic violence and divorces over the years. Masculinity is associated with strength and most masculine people feel untouchable and will always want to prove appoint even with little provocation (M. H. Marchand and A. S. Runyan.2000). On the other hand, masculinity can be related with financial independence in that over the years people with money have been known to muscle the poor ones. Even big corporations have been known to muscle other organization that don’t have the financial power compared to them. Wealthy individuals in society are considered masculine in the sense that they can afford anything and everything. Financial independence is an old factor of masculinity, still being practiced all over the world, the wealth have masculine bodyguards who can do anything if need be (Barrett, F. J.1996). Attraction to women has a direct relationship with masculinity in that most beautiful women attract more men. A woman who constantly maintains her image is considered masculine in the sense that she might be financial independent and have enough money to maintain good looks. In most cases, most masculine women tend to attract power and masculine many. Hegemonic masculinity has a direct impact on attraction in that most of the people in this group have the resources that will enable them to maintain their good image constantly. And attract more masculine men who are well established and can be able to maintain that woman’s lifestyle (Connell, R.2003). Masculinity may be enacted in the lives of individuals as defined by society, but they exist beyond the individual, and they are culturally defined and sustained in institutions. Due to masculinity being challenged over the years with the establishment of women roles in the society and emergence of women activists advocating women’s rights. Masculinity has had an impact on men’s health some have resorted to taking drug supplements to boost their body mass in order to look more masculine (Connell, R. 2000). Gender structures social practices and has a strong implication on the social processes in that white men masculinity are constructed in relation to black men’s (Connell,1998). Connell points out that education on the work on boys' was one important example, this was due to failure of boys in schools and many scientific beliefs about the many ways of learning associated with boys. Masculinity has brought challenges in violence prevention in domestic, civil conflicts, and war formed the basis for a masculinity research (Connell 2003). Psychological counseling practice directed towards men and boys also spread widely having that masculinity had brought about patterns of violence and increased sexual awareness among the youth. Masculinity is associated with immorality, and it is a practice influenced by various social practices. On a global scale, masculinities can be problematized in several ways. In the 20th century, a great Mexican poet and cultural theorist Octavio Paz, in his book ‘The Labyrinth of Solitude’. Problematized the cultural construction of ‘machismo’. Unresolved tensions of Mexicans and Spanish culture, with the uncompleted Mexican revolution of the 20th century (Baca Zinn, M.1982). Frantz Fanon, a psychiatrist equally, in the book ‘Black Skin White Masks’ problematized black masculinity under the pressures of the colonial rule (Guttmann 1996). Black and white masculinities brought about racism and brought about colonialism and a racist culture. Most women of black origin in France where used for sexual fantasies having that their masculinity made them look more attractive (Connell 2007). Men and masculinity are considered to be part and parcel of the new era of women feminism liberation in the late 19th century. Socially, men's health determinants had been raised, but the sex role concept was too large to be considered useful. The concepts of multiple and hegemonic masculinity were severally used to understand men’s health practices, (Sabo and Gordon1995). The concepts of subordinated and hegemonic masculinities helped understand that not only exposure to risk, by man but also the difficulties in responding to disability and injuries (Gerschick and Miller 1994). Masculinities has developed models that show relation and solutions to problems of gender relations, these models express ideas, desires and fantasies. In some levels hegemonic patterns of masculinity are embedded in specific social settings, such as social organizations. Social hegemonic models of masculinity that are considered legitimate are experienced in family settings. For example, men’s gender strategies shape negotiations around housework. Hegemonic patterns of masculinity are concerned on how children grow (Connell, R.1995). Gender formation is mostly in schools and their surroundings through peer group structures, control of school space, dating patterns, homophobic Speech and harassment (Mac and Ghaill 1994). Hegemonic masculinity is a pattern completely separate from others. Masculinity has seen boys and men collect images of models instead of seeking to be like them. Conclusion Masculinity has brought the concept of gender relations and an emphasis on masculine domination by men and boys. Masculinity has led to discrimination among women even with increased emphasize on promotion of the boy child. Violence has been experienced in organizations, homesteads and even prisons as the hegemonic ones keep on preying on the ones that are considered to be less masculine like women. There has always been a belief that “boys will be boys” and this has had a huge impact on our cultures and societies. Over the years, masculinity has been used to determine and judge our sexuality. Immorality is on the rise most women have become “gene hunters”, in our societies women have resorted to going after men they believe are masculine enough to help in siring of children without deformities (Connell, R. 2000). Research shows that masculinity has led to organizations trying to produce products that meet the needs of most masculine people. Textile companies are making smaller and tighter clothes to meet the ever increasing demand from customers who are in need of tight clothes who feel the need to reveal their muscles and curves. Masculinity has been associated with healthy problems, and there has been an increase in a demand for gyms to help people keep their bodies fit. Masculinity has set the expectations bar so high, and it is influencing our social lives far from the usual traditional cultures and people have to keep up to avoid being left out. Masculinity has had a social and economic impact in our societies in that most people care less about the societal moral codes, and they are instead following trends without caring on the effects they have on society. On the other hand, economies are surging with most people looking for equipment and products that will help them keep fit, in order never to lose their masculinity. Reference Baca Zinn, M. 1982. Chicano men and masculinity. Journal of Ethnic Studies 10 (2): 29-44. Barrett, F. J. 1996. The organizational construction of hegemonic masculinity: The case of the U.S.Navy. Gender, Work and Organization 3 (3): 129-42. Connell, R. 1995. Masculinities. Berkeley: University of California Press. Connell, R. 2000. The men and the boys. Cambridge, UK: Polity. Connell, R. 2003. Gender. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell. Light, R., and D. Kirk. 2000. High school rugby; the body and the reproduction of hegemonic masculinity. Sport, Education and Society 5 (2): 163-76. M. H. Marchand and A. S. Runyan. 2000. Masculinities in transition: The case of globalization. In Gender and global restructuring, edited London: Routledge. M. S. Kimmel, J. Hearn, and R. W. Connell. 2005. Men, masculinities, and crime. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Pleck, J. (1981). The myth of masculinity. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Read More