Essay On Hegemonic Masculinity

Over the last two decades, the issue towards bullying and violence in schools has increased rapidly at an alarming rate. Within the contemporary era, school bullying is one of the several social domains in which the hegemonic masculinity is created and expressed. This essay will discuss how hegemonic masculinity correlates with the idea of school bullying and violence

The concept of hegemonic masculinity comes from the work of Connell’s hierarchy of masculinities. In Connell’s hierarchy of masculinities, there are four different types of gender masculinity; hegemonic, complicit, marginalized, and subordinate. According to Messerschmitt, hegemonic masculinity is socially supported as a normative ideology about being a man. A hegemonic masculinity is represented as the most dominant type of masculinity at a
Oppositional masculinity refers to men who fits in the hegemonic masculinity but is simply not treated or recognized. These males tend to seek alternative ways to present their masculinity. Oppositional masculinity arises from childhood experiences by feeling powerless and disconnected from their communities. Due to these childhood experience, these young males act tough to outweigh their fear and concern. This associates to Klein’s research reading in relation to why young white boys bully and commit violent acts around school environment to construct their masculine identity. Mess stated that these boys view school as the best way to present their conceptions of masculinity. Klein addressed that the problem why young white boys conduct violence is the impact through how internalized and institutionalized the gender hierarchies in society affect the way we treat one another. Therefore, these problematic issues generate young boys to act violence in regard to gain their recognition and acceptance of their