Contribution made to theories of gender by studies of masculinity

Are men discriminated against?

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Battle of the sexes

I have already looked at gender inequalities from a feminist perspective, but what about the contributions that studies of masculinity have offered? What is it to be a man? According to Goodey, J. (1997) defining a man is often simplified to what is not feminine (P. 402). I aim within this article to evaluate masculinity within gender studies and attempt to identify a starting point.

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 Are  men discriminated against?

Through research it has become apparent that there is little discussion about masculinity that does not mention feminism. Kimmel, M. (2014) suggests that men are victims of “reverse discrimination” and due to feminism men are now the “second sex” (Lines 16-18). The starting point, of what seems to be a battle of the sexes, arose when men felt their traditional image was being threatened by feminist and homosexual movements. Kimmel, M. (2014) says “If women were imprisoned in the home, all housework and domestic drudgery, men were exiled from the home, turned into soulless robotic workers, in harness to a masculine mystique, so that their only capacity for nurturing was through their wallets” (Lines 30-34).

 

Gilmore, D. D. (1990) discusses three features of masculinity which are “Man the impregnator”, ”Man the provider” and “Man the protector” (P. 136). However, women are now more capable of carrying these roles out themselves which concludes in men losing their way as such and in need of finding a new place for themselves. Gilmore, D. D. argues that these three roles are “dangerous or competitive and failure in any of the roles carries high costs” (P. 136). Therefore men feel they are now failing at their traditional roles, and as Goodey, J. discusses it generates “masculine bravado” that can present itself as aggression (1997, P. 401).

 

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Furthermore, men are under constant pressure to live up to stereotypical masculine traits, Goodey, J. talks about hegemonic masculinity as being a “hierarchy of oppression” that has kept most men “in their place” (P. 403). Haralambos and Holborn (2008) discuss how hegemonic masculinity was successful in creating a theory that homosexuality was a deviant form of masculinity and making it be seen as “criminalized”, homosexuality began to be seen as feminine behavior and allowed heterosexual men to be put down through words such as “sissy” and “wimp” (P. 138-139).   

It is not questionable that females were once the second sex, however feminists have climbed mountains in fighting for female’s rights. Kimmel, M. (2014) states “But when boys are falling behind at school, when 90% of people in prison are male, there's never any thought given to whether men are discriminated against” (Lines 36-38). It seems that so much effort has been put into feminism that males are feeling victimized and largely under pressure due to stereotypical views of men.

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Will there ever be an end to the battle of gender inequalities?

Click here to view a students presentation on femininty and masculinity!