BIO152H5 Chapter Notes -Hegemonic Masculinity, Gender Studies, Masculinity
Document Summary
Explain these two key terms: hegemonic masculinity & emphasized femininity. Hegemonic masculinity and emphasized femininity are two fundamental concepts of gender studies. Gender is used to express socially and historically constructed assumptions between women and men. It is what it means to be masculine or feminine. It is socially constructed which means that we acquire the traits, behaviours and attitudes that our culture defines as masculine or feminine. Our biological apparatus at birth makes us either male or female but it is gender that attaches meanings to these differences which vary enormously in different cultures. Different cultures have different ideas of what it means to be masculine but the idea of hegemonic masculinity is used as a model for all. Hegemonic masculinity is the dominant model of masculinity which is defined as being white, middle-class, heterosexual, able-bodied and exceptionally good at sports.
