Duggan Masculinity

Gender is defined as “[A] set of socially constructed, assigned behaviors and identity patterns which are often perceived to be intertwined with and/or equivalent to one’s sexual biology. In fact, gender is constructed and fluid, having multiple meanings across cultures, geographies, communities, and individuals” (GenEq). Unlike the biological and physiological characteristics that define sex, gender is a socially constructed, fluid identification of oneself. It’s more than the duality of either a man or a woman, but can be expressed within a wide range, including masculinity, femininity or androgynous. Nation is defined as “[a] term somewhat similar to society, often understood to include all persons who share a common descent, language, history, …show more content…
She didn’t want to live the life of a woman after the death of her father and being abused by a male relative, and assumed the identity of a man. The steps that she took show the male privilege and expectations of men within a nation. Duggan explains Brandon’s gender identity by his need to “grab for masculine privilege for the ‘psychological wages’ or the ‘property of masculinity in a complex and situated economy of gender relations” (Duggan 216, 2004). Men get a higher wage than women, and are able to obtain an employment at an easier rate than women. They also face less danger within society. Brandon/Teena did not want to relive her abuse and did whatever she could to avoid situations where she could become revictimized. Men have certain privileges within a nation and are expected to defend their rights. This is seen in majority of men who responded with violent rage when they found out that she was a woman. Two men went as far as threatening to rape and kill her. The men in this nation were given more power and rights than the women. Nations construct of gender within their everyday society and those within the nation are constrained within those social