Furthermore, despite the fact that hegemonic masculinity has positioned itself to be above other forms of masculinities and femininities (Howson 2006), it is not the most common form of masculinity. This is shown by Connell and Messerschmidt (2005, p. 832), who suggests that hegemonic masculinity is not statistically normal, with only a handful of men practicing it. Even with that fact, hegemonic masculinity is still normative (Connel & Messerschmidt 2005, p. 832). Donaldson (1993, p. 645) and Robinson (2013) agree with this statement, saying that although all men do not practice hegemonic masculinity, further claiming that its benefits are still felt by most men, and that hegemonic masculinity caters to the interests of an abstract form of male power granted to a few privileged men.
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61), who illustrates that not all men strive to align themselves with hegemonic masculinity, especially men who are “racially or ethnically marginalised from the white western mainstream”. As previously stated, hegemonic masculinity has set itself as the ideal (Howson 2006, p. 3) and is a “socio-cultural product” (Spector-Mersel 2006, p. 68) this brings up another important issue into the equation regarding masculinity in crisis, namely society and its policing of hegemonic masculinity’s ideals. As Connell (1983 cited in Donaldson 1993, p. 646) accurately demonstrates, hegemonic masculinity is normalised in mainstream media as heroic, in domains where concepts are centred around heroes, such as sports. Similarly, Donaldson (1993, p. 645) points out that the basis of hegemony lies in the persuasion of the majority of a population especially through the instruments of the media and social institutions where hegemony is normalized and
61), who illustrates that not all men strive to align themselves with hegemonic masculinity, especially men who are “racially or ethnically marginalised from the white western mainstream”. As previously stated, hegemonic masculinity has set itself as the ideal (Howson 2006, p. 3) and is a “socio-cultural product” (Spector-Mersel 2006, p. 68) this brings up another important issue into the equation regarding masculinity in crisis, namely society and its policing of hegemonic masculinity’s ideals. As Connell (1983 cited in Donaldson 1993, p. 646) accurately demonstrates, hegemonic masculinity is normalised in mainstream media as heroic, in domains where concepts are centred around heroes, such as sports. Similarly, Donaldson (1993, p. 645) points out that the basis of hegemony lies in the persuasion of the majority of a population especially through the instruments of the media and social institutions where hegemony is normalized and