Theorists Connell And Messerchmidt And The Concept Of Hegemonic Masculinity

This essay is looking at the work of the theorists Connell and Messerschmidt and the concept of hegemonic masculinity with a focus on gender identity. This essay will introduce Connell and Messerchmidts’ concept of hegemonic masculinity and then how that ties in with and how they address gender identity. Finally this essay will examine how these theorists examine gender identity with a view to implement reform or social change.

Hegemonic masculinity, was first proposed in reports from a study of social inequality in Australian high schools, it was understood to be the practice that allowed male dominance over women to continue. Hegemonic masculinity represents the most current way of honoring being a man, and it ideologically legitimates

In the 1970s, an increase of writing about the male role, clearly critised role norms as the source of oppressive behaviour by men. Critical role theory provided the main theoretical basis for the early antisexist men’s movement (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005). A sophisticated analysis of the oppression of men by men included power and difference as a core concept of the gay liberation movement, which some theorists see as an assault on gender stereotypes (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005).

The male hierarchy theory grew from homosexual men’s experiences with violence and bias from straight men, whilst the concept of homophobia was credited to the conventional male role and originated in the 1970s. Theorists developed increasingly sophisticated accounts of gay men’s ambivalent relationships to patriarchy and conventional masculinity (Connell & Messerschmidt,

What has been called the "moment of engagement" with hegemonic masculinity (Connell 1990 as cited in Connell, 1992) happened for these men. They were dressed in pants, their fathers taught them sport such as soccer and rugby, and they leamed sexual difference (Thome forthcoming as cited in Connell, 1992). Their homosexuality is not built on a lack of masculinity. The men had some engagement with hegemonic masculinity but the construction of Gender operates concurrently through a range of relationships and cultural processes (West and Zimmerman 1987 as cited in Connell, 1992).

The relationship between hegemonic masculinity and homosexual masculinity includes criminalisation of male-to-male sex, homophobic speech and culture, and a history of intimidation and violence (Greenberg 1988 as cited in Connell, 1992). Attacks on gays are common enough that they have become an issue in Sydney 's urban politics. Ethnographic research has recorded homophobia in inner-city youth culture in the same area (Walker 1988 as cited in Connell,