Deploying hegemonic masculinity: A study of uses of the concept in the journal Psychology of Men & Masculinities.

Abstract

Questions about men and masculinities have arisen in psychology before, but it is only recently that a distinct research field has emerged. This field has made use of the concept of "hegemonic masculinity"; but in what way? The 26 papers published in Psychology of Men & Masculinities (PMM) from 2000 to early 2022 that mention this concept were examined. Over this period both the pattern of authorship and the balance of methods have changed. Most of the empirical work involves either quantitative scale-based studies or, increasingly, qualitative studies with smaller groups but more intensive methods. Considered as a whole, this literature convincingly documents the diversity of masculinities to be found among groups of men within the USA. There is a tendency to define hegemonic masculinity as a set of personal traits, rather than as a position in a structure of gender relations involving the subordination of women. Problems arise about the relation of hegemony to violence, and about the costs versus benefits of occupying a hegemonic position among men. Some directions in which the research field might develop are suggested, including greater attention to postcolonial perspectives in psychology. Public Significance StatementResearch on men and masculinities has value for education, health work, counseling, and public policy. For this knowledge to be most effective, careful conceptualization and links with other fields of knowledge are needed. This article reviews all the research about hegemonic masculinity published in Psychology of Men & Masculinities, brings together its findings, corrects some misunderstandings, and suggests useful directions for the future.

Slippages in the Application of Hegemonic Masculinity: A Case Study of Incels

“…As research into men and masculinities advanced through the 1990s, hegemonic masculinity and Connell’s broader theory of multiple masculinities found application in numerous fields, including media studies, education, criminology, nursing, politics, forestry, and clinical neurology (Messerschmidt 2018; Wedgwood, Connell, and Wood 2022). Given such widespread use, the construct received a variety of critiques and challenges leading to a reformulation by Connell and Messerschmidt (2005) 10 years later, now considered “the signature statement on hegemonic masculinity” (Messerschmidt 2018, 46).…”