Masculine Privilege

Masculinised privilege can structure society in a number of different ways. What it is to be a man is usually constructed and judged by society and this concept can change significantly throughout time and in varying locations. Masculinity is perpetrated to be the dominant form of gender, and if portrayed correctly it often results in privilege in a number of different ways including employment, home life and sports. Despite this privilege being invisible, the perception of what it is to be a ‘real man’ is based on society’s presumptions; and it is these presumptions that are then responsible for the structure of society. This essay will explore the privilege that one gets because of the ‘correct’ display of masculinity with examples as widespread as the linkages between masculinity and drinking beer, and how the consequences of these factors are then naturalised into society’s thoughts.

Privilege is a notion that exists when a particular group has something of value that is denied to others purely because of the group they belong to. Those who are privileged because of masculinity are able to go through life with less stress as it relieves them of being marked in ways that identify them as an outsider, which allows them to work within a relatively large comfort zone. This privilege is a benefit, and those who are told that they belong in these groups often feel angry and defensive about it (Johnson, 2006). This is predominantly because of the invisibility that surrounds privilege, Hill and Winegar (2009) describe it as being an invisible knapsack of special provisions that allow people to remain oblivious. However, the invisibility of privilege can be what strengthens its power, a term that Johnson (2006) refers to as the luxury of obliviousness, which underpins the idea that you are being privileged by not being aware of privilege. Males are essentially taught not to recognise male privilege just as they are taught to tie their shoes; it is a state of