The Sociology Book

88

M E N ’ S I N T E R E S T I N

P A T R I A R C H Y I S C O N D E N S E D

I N H E G E M O N I C M A S C U L I N I T Y

R.W. CONNELL (1944– )

I

t is often assumed that

masculinity is a natural,

biological state that cannot

be altered. R.W. Connell claims,

however, that it is not a fixed thing,

but an acquired identity: there

is no one pattern of masculinity

that is found everywhere or over

any extended period of time, and,

she says, we should speak about

masculinities, not masculinity,

when exploring what it means

to “be a man.”

Masculinity also has multiple

definitions within multicultural

societies. In any one setting, such

IN CONTEXT

FOCUS

Hegemonic masculinity

KEY DATES

1930s Italian social theorist

Antonio Gramsci uses the

term “hegemony” to explain

how the views of the dominant

class become seen as

“common sense.”

1957 US sociologist Helen

Hacker writes about the social

nature of masculinity.

1985 Carrigan, Connell, and

Lee publish Toward a New

Sociology of Masculinity.

1990 US sociologists Messner

and Sabo use hegemony to

explain homophobia and

violence at sporting events.

1993 US sociologist James

Messerschmidt publishes

Masculinities and Crime.

2003 Japanese sociologist

Masako Ishii-Kuntz traces

the emergence of diverse

masculinities in Japan.

Patriarchy

is a power system...

...that empowers men

and enables their

domination of women.

Patriarchy and hegemonic masculinity both value and

empower men above women.

Hegemonic masculinity

is a power system...

...that ranks “male” men

above those who display

“feminine” traits.

Men’s interest in patriarchy is condensed

in hegemonic masculinity.