Masculinities Essay
Constructing masculinities
Masculinities are the patterns of social practice associated with the position of men in any society’s set of gender relations (Connell, 2005).
Masculinity is not genetic trait that men are born with , rather it is acculturated, composed of social norms of behaviour, which they learn to reproduce in culturally appropriate ways (Beynon, 2002).
Connell, (2005) defines masculinities as the pattern or configuration of social practices linked to the position of men in the gender order, and socially distinguished from practices linked to the position of women. Configuration of practice in everyday life is substantially a social construction.
When concepts of masculinity are addressed by society at a macro level, the focus is on particular traits or characteristics of how males are to act,
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According to Pleck (1995) masculinity is being referred to, sets of culturally defined principles of masculinity to which men are expected to hold on (Pleck, 1995).
Support of the traditional male roles and norms by individuals, groups and society referred to as the masculinity ideology (Levant, 1995). Thompson and Pleck (1986) noted that a particular collection of dimensions upon which some individuals base their notion of masculinity is masculinity philosophy. However, these dimensions are defined as toughness (in the physical as well as the mental and emotional sense), norms related to status and, finally, the anti-femininity norm. While the dimension of toughness refers to the prospect that men need to be strong, experienced and capable of solving their emotional problems in an appropriate way, the status dimension is defined as labour, economic and professional success, and it is generally associated with a high income (Thompson & Pleck,
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