Hegemonic Masculinity

Gender-based violence refers to violence that occurs as a result of the normative role expectations. It is often the result of gendered power inequalities that exploit distinctions between the two genders. Although gender-based violence, mainly targets females as victims, males are also vulnerable victims. There has been growing visibility of men’s violence against other men throughout society. Men’s violence against men is demonstrated through multiple forms of violence, ranging from subtle verbal putdowns to physical assaults and murder. This is due to the patriarchal gender regimes where males belong to the social category that is associated with power. The reading “Youth Violence and Hegemonic Masculinity among Pacific Islander and Asian

Based on Connell’s hierarchy of masculinities, there are four different types of masculinity; hegemonic, complicit, marginalised, and subordinate. Hegemonic masculinity is placed at the top of the hierarchy of masculinities. It is socially supported as a normative ideology about being a man given within a dominant society. In order to fit the concept of hegemonic masculinity, men must exhibit a number of features. This includes being white, heterosexual, physically tough, emotionless and economically successful. The remaining three masculinities are placed below the hegemonic masculinity in the hierarchy. Complicit masculinity consists most men in society, who do not adhere to hegemonic masculinity, but who are compliant with its standards. (CEO). Marginalised masculinity refers to men who support the hegemonic masculinity, but they are prevented due to their ethnic, class, and race. (Poor, men of colour). Subordinate masculinity refers to men who exhibits the opposite values of hegemonic masculinity. (Gay men). Each hierarchy holds different structural orders of power in the male construction. Since most men cannot fit the ideal hegemonic masculinity, men conducting violence is a way to enact hypermasculinity to raise their power. Those who fall under the hegemonic masculinity in the hierarchy tend to experience violence and suffer

Social learning theory was developed by Albert Bandura, it emphasis how individuals learn through observing others and how the social environment makes them act in certain ways. With regards to men’s violence against men, males learn through the socialization of their surrounded upbringing. For example, men can pursue violence through childhood witnessing of their male peer violence against other males or exposure to violence in their family. This is known as the intergenerational cycle of