Connell's Definition Of Hegemonic Masculinity

Hegemonic Masculinity Considering the definition offered by Connell (1995) in his book, Knowledge and its Problems, within his third chapter, “The Social Organization of Masculinity,” hegemonic masculinity can be best defined as the “…configuration of gender practice which embodies the currently accepted answer to the problem of the legitimacy of patriarchy, which guarantees (or is taken to guarantee) the dominant position of men and the subordination of women” (77). In other words, hegemonic masculinity, in its simplest form, is the dominance of men over women, who are increasingly kept in a subordinated status through men’s successful claim to, and assertion of, authority. Unfortunately, considering the fact that just as there were women …show more content…
As was defined by Connell (1995) in his second chapter, “Men’s Bodies,” masculine embodiment can be typically characterized as “…strength, endurance, a degree of insensitivity and toughness, and group solidarity” (55). Therefore, although the concept of masculine embodiment is traditionally explained within the context of sports, I was able to identify this embodiment when I witnessed a young, Hispanic male teenager hop on the bus with a broken leg, refusing to take a seat, even though there were plenty of available seats around him. However, because of the feminization of disability within our society, this young male teen student preferred to stand alongside his male peers, ignoring the fact that his disabled status required at least a certain degree of care, not negligence. This idea that masculinity suffers the risk of feminization through its attainment of a disability is further explained by Connell (1995), “The constitution of masculinity through bodily performance means that gender is vulnerable when the performance cannot be sustained—for instance, as a result of physical disability”