SOC219H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Masculinity, Dont, Hypermasculinity
SOC219; Lecture 10
Key Takeaways;
● GBA involves exertion of power over the victim, and that it doesn’t have to be violent for
it to be abuse.
● Women are socialized to be fearful of men, and take precautions in order to avoid their
own victimization.
● Black/Indigenous women are more likely to be victims of GBA, but not seen as worthy
victims.
● Hegemonic masculinity and normative sexuality, idealize male aggression, control and
authority, when taken to extremes can result in damaging criminal behaviour.
● Beliefs that men are the most oppressed group in society has led to the creation of
alt-right male supremacist groups that support violence against women.
● Call out culture has developed as a way for marginalized voices to “call out” their
aggressors/oppressors and hold them accountable.
Doing Masculinity;
● Messerschmidt – specific forms of masculinity as put forward as being normative, this
form is encouraged and permitted.
● And so hegemonic masculinity – idealized form of behaviour for men, that champions
authority, control, independence, and aggressiveness. Whilst, most men are suppose to
strive for these traits, only a minority does them in practise (to the fullest). But it remains
an idealized target, that man are expected to present.
● Normative Heterosexuality. Heterosexuality is the norm and this involves a presumption
that men have an urge to sexual intercourse, and women are the objects which can be
exploited for this purpose. GBA, is considered customary.
○ These types of actions are enforced through social scripts (“boys will be boys”).
These are enacted at a young age for men. This is something women also
believe, and justify violence against them as just being a result of boys and their
urges. Normative feminine traits are critiqued within men who display such
actions (“big boys DON’T CRY” or “Don’t be a sissy”), these work to further imply
that boys need to be tough, and can’t show emotion, whilst entrenching the lower
positions of girls (i.e. “don’t throw like a girl”).
○ Toxic Masculinity. When hegemonic masculinity is taken TOO FAR! This is due
to the “fragility of masculinity” (some men aren’t able to, but want to, fulfill these
masculine norms). These men might not make a lot of money, or cant have sex
with women, and so their frustration carries out in violence (symbolic of physical)
and rage, which is their mode of doing masculinity. Sees, the feminine as an
object of weakness and something upon which masculine power and authority
can be exerted on. These men often see themselves as defenders of their own
masculinity, of other women, and defend the patriarchal order.
● Men’s Liberation and Rights Activists
Document Summary
Gba involves exertion of power over the victim, and that it doesn"t have to be violent for it to be abuse. Women are socialized to be fearful of men, and take precautions in order to avoid their own victimization. Black/indigenous women are more likely to be victims of gba, but not seen as worthy victims. Hegemonic masculinity and normative sexuality, idealize male aggression, control and authority, when taken to extremes can result in damaging criminal behaviour. Beliefs that men are the most oppressed group in society has led to the creation of alt-right male supremacist groups that support violence against women. Call out culture has developed as a way for marginalized voices to call out their aggressors/oppressors and hold them accountable. Messerschmidt specific forms of masculinity as put forward as being normative, this form is encouraged and permitted. And so hegemonic masculinity idealized form of behaviour for men, that champions authority, control, independence, and aggressiveness.
