MHS 2330 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Hegemonic Masculinity, Heterodoxy, Masculinity
19 Feb 2019
School
Department
Course
Professor
1/31/19
MHS Readings 1/31/19
Cole- finding space in the field of masculinity
Hegemonic masculinity- the unrealistic ideal of masculinity that most men actually
never attain, so even though it is a position of power, most men are marginalized by it
Connell suggests: Though most men are marginalized by it, most men support the idea of
hegemonic masculinity because to ensures men’s power and privilege over women.
However, most interviewed men did not claim to support it or idealize it as the best type of
masculinity
Said they didn’t feel marginalized by it or subordinate to it, instead subscribing to different
‘dominant’ forms of masculinity on an individual level
Field of masculinity- dominant masculinities exist despite being subordinated by
hegemonic masculinity- how men negotiate masculinity
Within any flied there is a power struggle between those in power (orthodoxy) and those
subordinate and rebelling (heterodoxy)
In this case- struggle between those who want to maintain the status quo and those who push
for change
Hegemonic masculinity is the most dominant masculinity in a culture
There are subfields ex gay masculinity, black masculinity, working class masculinity fields
each have their own dominant form as well outside of hegemonic masculine idea
Australian hegemonic masculinity- good @ sports, objectify women, alcohol, physical
strength, overt heterosexuality
To get status and respect from peers
Needed specific capital to fulfill this ex ‘physical capital’ to be strong enough
Mosaic masculinities- men negotiate masculinity by picking and choosing the parts they
want and rejected what they don’t like- this is done with hegemonic masculinity and often men
keep the parts that privelege them and reject the rest, especially what marginalizes them since
they cant conform
Ex. An individual says yes to patriarchal power structure in families but no to physical ideal
strength because he is not physically capable of the hegemonic ideal
Homosexual man negotiates masculinity to exclude heterosexual sex
Men see deviations from the hegemonic masculinity often as ‘soft masculinity’—
effeminate or feminine
ex. Men who express their feelings, men who cry— these traits are ‘feminine’
do not feel insecure in their masculinity often because of biological sex- I am male and
therefore am definitely masculine
Men often see women on the opposite pole, men and women are completely separate
Men desire a break from the oppressive qualities of hegemonic masculinity on
THEMSELVES, but reject feminism- which is basically the thing they want but for women— this
shit do not make sense
Basically, dont want the pressure on themselves but at the same time like the position of power
over women :/
Cole: Negotiating the field of masculinity
Document Summary
Hegemonic masculinity- the unrealistic ideal of masculinity that most men actually. Field of masculinity- dominant masculinities exist despite being subordinated by. Australian hegemonic masculinity- good @ sports, objectify women, alcohol, physical. Cole- finding space in the field of masculinity never attain, so even though it is a position of power, most men are marginalized by it. Connell suggests: though most men are marginalized by it, most men support the idea of hegemonic masculinity because to ensures men"s power and privilege over women. However, most interviewed men did not claim to support it or idealize it as the best type of masculinity. Said they didn"t feel marginalized by it or subordinate to it, instead subscribing to different. Dominant" forms of masculinity on an individual level hegemonic masculinity- how men negotiate masculinity. Within any flied there is a power struggle between those in power (orthodoxy) and those subordinate and rebelling (heterodoxy)
