Masculinity in Childhood and adolescence

Question 1

What are some socialisation agents in the west that are related to stronger adherence to masculine norms?

Answer 1

• Pressure from male peers
• Watching tv dramas
• watching music videos

Question 2

How is masc constructed?

Answer 2

• Masculinity is a configuration of practices and discourses that different youths may embody in different ways and to different degrees
• must be continually proven
• Men/boys regulate one another’s expressions of masc. even if not consciously
• Interactions between men/boys affect how men/boys do masculinity
• Enactments of masculinity differ when men/boys are interacting with women/girls

Question 3

How is masc proven?

Answer 3

• Exercising dominance, control, strength
• Avoiding most things feminine, vulnerable emotions, and (for boys) too much interest in other men

Question 4

How does masculinity in adolescence shift over time?

Answer 4

Among boys/young men peer pressure and personal endorsement of conventionally masculine ideals often decreases from early adolescence through young adulthood

Question 5

Which group among straight men, gay, bi men has the highest level of bachelor’s degree attainment?

Answer 5

Gay men (across races too)

Question 6

Why are gay men more likely to obtain a bachelors degree than any other group?

Answer 6

Academic performance provides an accessible domain for competitive self-mastery. When other avenues of masculinity are blocked, pursuing a prestigious career offers a means to enhance one’s standing as a man.

Question 7

What does “inherent dignity” refer to according to Freeden?

Answer 7

• intrinsic humanity, free from socially imposed rules or norms, and is considered a cornerstone of human dignity.
• Struggles for inherent dignity are fundamentally demands for justice, as unjust punishments erode institutional moral authority.

Question 8

How does Freeden’s study relate to inherent dignity?

Answer 8

• criminalized young men strive for dignity, but police mistreatment undermines this by demanding obedience and emasculating them.

Question 9

How is age a factor in social inequality according to the study?

Answer 9

• significant, particularly for young black men who are often denied childhood innocence and subjected to harsh punishments.

Question 10

What is substantive dignity?

Answer 10

• a robust sense of worth stemming from a feeling of belonging within a community

Question 11

How does Durkheim’s theory relate to substantive dignity?

Answer 11

Individuals seek connections to communities for a sense of belonging and dignity, with barriers often influenced by race and class.