Summary of 'Hegemonic Masculinities: Rethinking the Concept' by R W Connel Part -1

 What is Hegemonic Masculinity?

Hegemonic masculinity was understood as the pattern of practice that allowed men’s dominance over women to continue.

Origins

In the essay, Connel traces the use of the term of ‘Hegemonic Masculinities’ in public domain to three main events; they are 

1. First proposed in reports from a field study of social inequality in Australian high schools which provides empirical data in studying hegemonic masculinity.

2. This field trip leads to the conceptual discussion of the making of masculinities and and the experience of men’s bodies

3. A debate over the role of men in Australian labour politics

As a pioneer in the field, he also cites the early academic engagement with HM (Hegemonic masculinity) studies. The following are the first academic attempt to examine HM

4. “Towards a New Sociology of Masculinity” Connell West critiqued ‘male sex role’ literature and proposed a model of multiple masculinities and power.

5. This model was integrated into a systematic sociological theory of gender published in Gender and Power titled “Hegemonic Masculinity and Emphasised Femininity” by Connell West.

Sources of Hegemonic Masculinity theory

In this part of the essay, Connel offers sources of theoretical formulations of Hegemonic Masculinity. As it is a newly emerging field of academic study, it has theoretical affiliations with three distinctive fields of studies.

1. Gender Studies/ Feminism

2. Psychoanalysis

3. Empirical Social Research

1. Gender Studies/ Feminism

The basic source of HM theory is feminist theory of patriarchy. It is triggered by the debates on the role of men in transforming patriarchy. The support rendered by New Left men to Feminism offers an insight into the working of patriarchy and this leads to a realisation that there are differences among men in the expression of masculinity. The criticism raised by women of colour (Bell Hooks/ Angele Davis/ Maxine Baca Zinn) that there is racial bias when power is solely conceptualised in terms of sex differences also has contributed in theoring masculinity as a field of academic engagement.

i) Gramscian Insights

The Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci’s theory on the role of “hegemony” in stabilizing class relations was adapted to studies on gender relations. Adaptation of Gramsci into gender relations created theoretical difficulties as Gramsci focused on historical changes and the dynamics of structural change which was not fully applied in Hegemonic Masculinity studies. Yet, Gramsci’s insights on hegemony contributed to theorising HM.

ii) Social Psychology and Sociological male sex role

Social psychology studies have already recognised the social nature of masculinity and possibilities of change in men’s conduct. 

Sociological male sex role theory is based on the notion that men and women have distinctive gender roles and they are fixed and unchangeable. Men’s Liberation Movement 1970s- criticised role norms as the source of oppressive behaviour by men. Male sex role theory has many limitations in defining masculinity as it is premised on fixed gender roles for men and women. Here are three of its weaknesses.

1. Blurring of behaviour and norm

2. Homogenising effect of the role concept

3. Difficulties for accounting for power

iii) Gay Liberation Movement

Homosexual men were attacked by heterosexual men because of their sexual oreintation. This has exposed the hierarchy of masculinities as one group of men are oppressed by another group. Power and difference are key concepts in this movement which analyses oppression of men and oppression by men. The idea of hierarchy of masculinities grew directly out of homosexual men’s experience with violence and prejudice from straight men. Gay Liberation Movt. as an assault on gender stereotypes. Homophobia is attributed to conventional male roles. 

2. Empirical Social Research

Field studies conducted at schools, workplace and village communities document local gender hierarchies and local cultures of masculinity. Ethnographic (description of peoples and cultures with their customs, habits, and mutual differences) realism confirms pluralities of masculinities and gender construction for men. Gave evidence of the active struggles for dominance which is implicit in the Gramscian concept of hegemony.

3. Psychoanalysis

Freud produced first analytical biographies of men and in ‘Woof Man’ case history, showed adult personality was a system under tension which has roots in repressed emotions. Psychoanalyst Stoller popularised the concept “gender identity”, and mapped variation in boys development (leading to transsexualism). Psychoanalysts study issues such as men’s power, range of possibilities in gender development, tension and contradiction within conventional masculinities.

Click here to read part-2 of the essay