In this essay I will be discussing domestic violence in New Zealand, and with specific reference to R.W Connells work on Hegemonic Masculinities (Connell & Messerschmidt, Hegemonic Masculinity; Rethinking the Concept, 2005). I will be discussing how positive more peaceful patterns of masculinity need to become the hegemonic form, in order to try and assist in the movement towards less domestic violence, especially toward women. There are both social and public policy implementations that can be used in assitinging this movement toward a society with less domestic violence.
The concept of Hegemonic Masculinity was really developed in Connells and Messerschmitt’s work. Masculinity is described as something that is actually done in the world, …show more content…
As well as the hegemonic masculinity or even any form of masculinity cannot exist without femininity. Because these two are always relational its then calls for the concept of hegemonic masculinity to take a more comprehensive view of the gender hierarchy that takes place because subordinated groups can often hold significant amounts of power, even over that hegemonic masculine behaviours. For example a young male may preform hegemonic masculine behaviours but his mother or girlfriend may still assert dominance over him and what he is able to do. So it the concept of hegemonic masculinity does need to take into account these conditions and how social dynamics can significantly affect behaviours of individuals. (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005, p. …show more content…
But this is not to mean that regional constructions of masculinity and gender have been disregarded. For example in New Zealand there is still a real perception of farming, or other particularly intensive outdoors work being an ideal masculine man. But there is also an urban maybe slightly more ‘metro-sexual’ man who cares about how he looks that could be said to be influenced globally (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005, pp. 849-850). Assimilation also plays a role in the construction of gender and different cultures moving to New Zealand play apart in constructing our patterns of hegemonic masculinity. For southern Asian people for example before migrating to new zeland some behaviours by men in particular where what may be considered domestic abuse in New Zealand in their traditional cultures it is not considered abuse at all and is just a mechanism to ‘protect the family’ (Pallai, 2001, p. 965). The geography of masculinity is important to understand hegemonic masculinity because of the possibility for global influence on what becomes the hegemonic pattern of masculinity in New Zealand and weather that can be a non-violent one that can aid in addressing the issue of domestic
The concept of Hegemonic Masculinity was really developed in Connells and Messerschmitt’s work. Masculinity is described as something that is actually done in the world, …show more content…
As well as the hegemonic masculinity or even any form of masculinity cannot exist without femininity. Because these two are always relational its then calls for the concept of hegemonic masculinity to take a more comprehensive view of the gender hierarchy that takes place because subordinated groups can often hold significant amounts of power, even over that hegemonic masculine behaviours. For example a young male may preform hegemonic masculine behaviours but his mother or girlfriend may still assert dominance over him and what he is able to do. So it the concept of hegemonic masculinity does need to take into account these conditions and how social dynamics can significantly affect behaviours of individuals. (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005, p. …show more content…
But this is not to mean that regional constructions of masculinity and gender have been disregarded. For example in New Zealand there is still a real perception of farming, or other particularly intensive outdoors work being an ideal masculine man. But there is also an urban maybe slightly more ‘metro-sexual’ man who cares about how he looks that could be said to be influenced globally (Connell & Messerschmidt, 2005, pp. 849-850). Assimilation also plays a role in the construction of gender and different cultures moving to New Zealand play apart in constructing our patterns of hegemonic masculinity. For southern Asian people for example before migrating to new zeland some behaviours by men in particular where what may be considered domestic abuse in New Zealand in their traditional cultures it is not considered abuse at all and is just a mechanism to ‘protect the family’ (Pallai, 2001, p. 965). The geography of masculinity is important to understand hegemonic masculinity because of the possibility for global influence on what becomes the hegemonic pattern of masculinity in New Zealand and weather that can be a non-violent one that can aid in addressing the issue of domestic