Violence, dominance and stereotypes in masculinity
Dominance and violence intersected with masculinity affect the way that males navigate life and are socialized from a young age. Many social factors influence how violence and dominance is expressed through masculinity. Some of these factors include race, social interactions, media, and surroundings.
Male Dominance and Social Interaction[edit]
The production and reproduction of dominance as a cultural norm as well as its effects on the societal psyche are crucial to understanding the correlation of masculinity to violence. Male dominance begins with the production this concept as a gendered social construct. This social construct is manufactured, in males specifically (although also internalized in females), through the process of socialization, which is the method in which one learns how to act in a manner that is socially accepted.[1] Sociological claims provide that socialization connects to male dominance because “gender inequality is rewritten into new economic and social arrangements as they emerge, preserving that inequality in modified form throughout socioeconomic transformations.”.[1] Socialization involves both learning and teaching, and male dominance is transferred through socialization, the of construct male dominance persists.[1]
With this persisting construct, it is important to consider what forms this takes in visually apparent behavior. In sociology research, behavior stems from stereotypes because “sex categorization unconsciously primes gender stereotypes in our minds and makes them cognitively available to shape behavior and judgements.” [1] In addition to the impact of stereotypes, there are specifically violent stereotypes that are involved in male socialization. Specifically, the “masculinity ideology” used to socialize males involves a pedagogy that “devalues women, glorifies violence, and restricts the expression of emotions.” [2] The broken down components of this ideology can be sourced from several ideals in male socialization: “(a) avoidance of all things feminine, (b) restrictive emotionality, (c) toughness and aggression, (d) self-reliance, (e) achievement and status, (f) non relational attitudes towards sexuality, and (g) homophobia.” [2] The socialization according to these seven characteristics are fostered through the groups in which males are raised in.[2]
Emotional socialization is the first development in male socialization. In the first stage of male socialization, which is at age 1, mother and father engage in the development of male dominance by discouraging the expression of all vulnerable and caring emotions while encouraging aggression and anger.[2] In addition, paternal interactions in conjunction with gender segregated peer groups enforce the traditional masculinity through example and observation.[2] As the infant transitions to childhood, traditional masculinity is presented through both peers and teachers through social consequences.[2] For example, a male child will likely go unpunished for being aggressive, while female assertiveness is often not tolerated and is reprimanded by elementary school teachers.[1] Throughout high school, peer pressures continue to foster this need for traditional masculinity.[2]
Due to the direct correlation of traditional masculinity to violence and apathy, in conjunction to the gendered dominance of these ideals, male socialization fosters violence.
Men and Media[edit]
The Center for Media Literacy found that men are stereotyped in media as powerful, sexual, strong, independent, and rational.[3] Traits like being emotional and sensitive are portrayed as negatives and feminine traits.[3] Men also are portrayed as solving conflict through violence instead of using verbal and emotional skills. [3] Media portrays these masculine traits as valuable and dominant over feminine traits. [3]
Environmental Surroundings and Men[edit]
Younger men seem to have belligerent behavior during their puberty years because of high levels of testosterone which some use as reasoning for their violent and dangerous behavior.[4].
Racial Differences in Men's Violence[edit]
Research on the intersection between race, violence, and men has become a growing interest in the United States. As seen by the homicide mortality rate that is eight times higher amongst young black males compared to young white males,[5] there are notable differences in the violence/crime rate of African Americans versus Caucasians, and such differences could be due to the differences in experiences.[6] There are many factors that can lead to the variations in developmental and social life courses of an African American individual and a Caucasian individual.[6] Belonging to a historically underprivileged and disparate economic and social category along with individual experiences can shape the development of differences in violence. Risk factors for violence are those that increase the likelihood of participating in violent behaviors.[6] These include low intellect and poor school performance, high recklessness, living in a high-crime community, low socioeconomic standing, and family problems such as having a young mother, lacking parental guidance, harsh discipline methods, or having a large or broken family.[6] Two possibilities arise from these risk factors to describe racial differences in violence—that African American boys are more likely than Caucasian boys to hold these risk factors, and that for African American boys, they might be more strongly related to violence.[6]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ridgeway, Cecilia L. (2011-02-09). Framed by Gender: How Gender Inequality Persists in the Modern World. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199792443. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Spielberger, Charles Donald (1995). Stress and Emotion. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781560322849. Search this book on
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "How do Media Images of Men Affect Our Lives? | Center for Media Literacy". www.medialit.org. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
- ↑ Carpenter, David; Nevin, Rick (2009). "Environmental causes of violence" (PDF). Physiology and Behavior. 99: 260–268 – via Elsevier.
- ↑ Sampson, Robert J.; Lauritsen, Janet L. (1997-01-01). "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Crime and Criminal Justice in the United States". Crime and Justice. 21: 311–374. doi:10.1086/449253. ISSN 0192-3234.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Hawkins, Darnell F. (2003-02-24). Violent Crime: Assessing Race and Ethnic Differences. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521626743. Search this book on
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