Loading...
What makes a ‘good man’? A mixed-methods exploration of UK adolescent attitudes towards masculinity
McNulty, Anne Birney, Megan E.
McNulty, Anne
Birney, Megan E.
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Affiliation
EPub Date
Publication Date
2023-01-24
Submitted Date
Collections
Files
Loading...
Article - AAM
Adobe PDF, 395.82 KB
Other Titles
Abstract
Stereotypes of men (e.g., strong, domineering, assertive) can harm boys’ health and contribute to the normalization of sexual harassment. Yet research on how adolescents view masculinity is limited, particularly for those growing up during the #MeToo movement. Using a mixed-methods approach, we explore beliefs about masculinity in a sample of 16 to 19 year olds growing up in the UK (N = 129). Results from the quantitative analysis show that, compared to girls, boys report feeling more comfortable with media representations of hegemonic masculinity, greater adherence to hegemonic ideology, higher self-esteem, and less engagement with the topic. Results from the qualitative analysis reflected these findings; boys’ descriptions of masculinity were more reliant on hegemonic ideals, and they were less critical of the topic than girls. Despite recent narratives on masculinity’s place in society, this study suggests that boys are complacent about societal expectations to behave in line with gender stereotypes.
Citation
McNulty, A., & Birney, M. E. (2024). What makes a ‘good man’? A mixed-methods exploration of UK adolescent attitudes towards masculinity. Journal of Gender Studies, 33(2), 186-199. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2023.2170337
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Journal
Journal of Gender Studies
Research Unit
DOI
10.1080/09589236.2023.2170337
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
Description
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Gender Studies on 24/01/2023, available online: https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2023.2170337
Series/Report no.
ISSN
0958-9236
EISSN
1465-3869