Hegemonic Gender

In the blog post written by Jill Filipovic named “Why should married men change their names? Let men change theirs.” Filipovic covers the controversial issue of the fact that the majority of women lose their last names as part of the twenty-first century marriage. This, along with some history behind names, gives a telling commentary on women’s rights and identities.

The extraordinary documentary, “Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She” examine and emphasizes that gender and sexual identities are natural rather than people making choices. In order to support the documentaries argument, they venture throughout the world and look to analyze the gender variances of individuals. For example, in the film, they evaluate the behaviors and tendencies of an eight-year-old named Noah. Noah is a child who finds enjoyment in dancing, fashion, and female clothing. He does not find as much of an amusement when it comes to sports or video games.

When it comes to gender, it is as easy to determine as quantum physics; all the pieces are there but it is impossible to put together. Without hard evidence, all people can do is to make assumptions. The two biggest arguments on how gender is determined right now is based upon social and biological construct. Arguing for the sociological aspect is Aaron Devor, writer of the article, “Gender roles behaviors and attitudes”. Dover believes that, “People use femininity and masculinity to claim and communicate their membership in their assigned, or chosen, sex or gender” (Devor 505). Devor considers that society has certain roles that are predetermined towards males, females and anyone in between. A man has to act a certain way to be masculine and a female a certain way to be considered feminine. On the not so opposite side of the spectrum is Deborah Blum, author of the work, “The gender blur: Where Does Biology End and Society Take Over?”. Blum doesn’t necessarily disagree with Devor, but asks the question, “Do the gender roles of our culture reflect an underlying biology, and, in turn, does the way we behave influence that biology” (Blum 512). Blum is arguing that maybe it was our genetic makeup that built the foundation on how a gender should act. Both authors present valid points for their arguments, but in the end, it is Blum who comes over on top with her usage of tone, evidence, and the use of a counterargument.

...Tell me is it cool to fuck?” or Jay-Z’s hit song: 99 problems, “99 Problems but a bitch ain 't one. If you having girl problems. I feel bad for you son. I got 99 problems but a bitch ain 't one.Hit me.” Each song displays a different type of hatred and is sexually degrading towards women in their own way. However, many of these rappers face the pressures of their hierarchy, the corporations that produce this music, and find what its viewers are listening and responding to the most. The content of the messages in these rap lyrics has become more hardcore over the past years in order to make records sell, because that’s what consumers like, that’s what they want to hear. The negative depiction and hegemonic masculinity are what is making these records sell. Consumers play a key role in the process. Misogynistic representations of women and the more general marketing of “hood narratives”, occur in part, in response to a perceived consumer demand for stereotypical representations of the ghetto, and specifically of young Black men and women (Watkins 2001:389). Negative representation towards women isn’t only talked about in their songs, but shown in the popular music videos that played on stations aimed for kids of the younger generation, such as MTV. It is found that women in rap music videos were more likely then men to be associated with themes of misogyny. The prominence of misogyny as a theme may be related to viewers’ expression of similar attitudes towards their own

Hegemonic masculinity represent a structure of dominance and oppression in the gender order. This masculinity is socially and culturally endorsed by the society (as noted by Robyn and Wendy) and its granted men benefit in terms of public status and privileges. A fundamental elements of hegemonic masculinity is that women are subordinate to men. Though it is not all men that practice this, but they all benefit from it.

hegemonic masculinity plays an important role in rap music. Misogynistic rap music contains different “’controlling images’” which are aimed at women (Collins qtd. in Weitzer and Kubrin 25), and also constructs strict gender rules, in which woman are subordinated to men. Rap music points to larger gender relations by stating very broad claims and ordering men to adapt the appropriate behaviour toward women. It is important to mention that the rappers are not solely responsible for the contents of their songs.

​Gender identity has changed its definition over time. The psychological definition as stated from the social learning theory is that gender identity is the sense of being male or female. Seems simple but we now know in todays world the definition has broadened. Gender identity is now defined as one 's personal experience of one 's own gender. Gender identity can correlate with assigned sex at birth, or can differ from it completely. All societies have a set of gender categories that can serve as the basis of the formation of a person 's social identity in relation to other members of society. From the past when we had many strong women’s rights activist who fought so what your gender was did not

Alison McNeil Kettering discusses masculine identity portrayed in Dutch portraiture during the seventeenth century as an identity that was not set in stone but instead malleable. She begins by explaining that his character and his accomplishments valued a man, and not fancy outward appearances, and that codes and conventions for representing masculinity required an image of dignity, self-control, and professional identity. Artists took great care to create the appropriate imagery to portray such a man, using black restrained clothing, upright postures, and the corresponding social character. In contrast to these ideals, the author presents imagery considered effeminate during this period, such as Niolaes Maes’ Portrait of Simon van Alphen

In NPR’s article “The End of Gender,” they discuss the emergence and growth of gender neutrality. NPR goes in depth with various examples of how gender neutrality is slowly being implemented and first-hand accounts from individuals that are practicing gender neutrality.

In today’s society it has become a norm to use the males surname for the new family, when married the women and their kids usually use the husband or fathers surname but in the article “Take Me, Take My Name?” it is said that the choice between male and female surname is actually equal, however the preference is not. This is because in the past sexes were seen unequal and with superiority. Men have natural masculine flaws such as pride, territorialism, and sometimes even jealousy or possessiveness so when it is in question which surname to use after marriage, the argument is won by men because they seem to have a stronger position on this than women. Women have to make the choice whether to identify with their family of origin or with the family

The word gender can be described as the state of being male or female and is typically used to describe cultural differences as opposed to biological ones. Additionally, the definition of gender has continuously been a controversial issue due to its lack of clarity in regards to battling complicated social injustices. Furthermore, the construction of gender as a social category has recently been criticized for the lack of inclusiveness to women of color and the consistent habit to view both gender and race as restrictive divisions of experience and reasoning. Seeing those criticisms has led to the development of the term intersectionality which deals with various layers of subjection that women live with and addresses more than just the

The concept of idealized gender roles has long been a subject of curiosity for scholars who study historical reenactment. Reenactments rely heavily upon gender divides between the feminine and the masculine. Handler and Saxon (1988) suggest that authenticity in the reenactment hobby is a suspicious pursuit at best, because true subjectivity and “mindsets” cannot be replicated (245). Mitchell D. Strauss (2005) also considers authenticity in his critique of Confederate reenactors and the (in) appropriate expression of whiteness. Building off of similar themes, Stephen J. Hunt (2005) further proposes that the performances of idealized gender roles, then, becomes a method through which reenactors stake a claim on authenticity and become embroiled

The notion of hegemonic masculinity has altered the field of gender studies and many academic arenas. An idea popularized by R.W. Connell, hegemonic masculinity has played an integral role in the emotional development of American men, articulating the impact that this societal construction has had on the concept of American masculinity. It is a contested topic, yet the impacts that it has in terms of sexuality, struggles for power and political leadership, and gender identities are valid (Connell 830). Although difficult to fully achieve, it acts as a guiding force for the stereotypically masculine. Hegemonic masculinity assumes the subordination of all other forms of masculinity, placing it at the top of the social hierarchy. At the same time, the idea of hegemonic masculinity has served as a bridge between the growing field of men’s’ studies and female studies (Connell 829). Several authors share the premise that men in American society conform to the standards of the social construct of hegemonic masculinity.

Characterization through stereotyping female identity creates weak characters bound by gender expectations. The evolution of dimensional working-girl protagonists develops an unconventional female identity, which breaks the common tropes of a woman’s role in literature and society. Independent female archetypes often adopt masculine qualities to achieve status, earnest acceptance and independence in a man’s world. The heroine, Nancy Drew, promotes the corrosion of traditional female identity, inheriting male-identified traits to express success and strength. In the first chapter of Carolyn Keene’s mystery novel, The Message in the Hollow Oak, the archetype of a strong female character equates success from transcending into male-identified personality, reverting from tradition femininity and adopting male qualifies to express strong independent characteristics. Through the narrative exposition and indirect integration of character development through dialogue and inner monologue, female characters within the novel display strength by identifying with masculine strength. Female identity is contrasted through the characterization of George and Bess, identifying two representations of femininity as one that conforms to the norms of gender within society, and one who equates boyish physical appearance with strength and success.

When a woman gets married she usually gives up her family’s name and acquires her husband’s. Years ago this indicated that woman were property owned by their husbands. Whatever your husband said you had to do and if you didn’t there was consequences. A man being the owners of woman is hegemonic masculinity, which is, “The complete dominance of a group of people, a type of power so complete that it goes unnoticed by the people who are dominated,” (Conley,