gend soc

• Masculinity


  Social expectation of being a man. The roles, behaviors, and attributes that are considered appropriate for boys and men in a given society. Constructed and defined socially, historically, and politically, rather than being biologically driven.
• Hierarchy of masculinities (Raewyn Connell)

  • Hegemonic masculinity
  • Complicit masculinity
  • Marginalized masculinity
  • Subordinate masculinity
• Hegemonic masculinity


  • Dominant form of masculinity. Embodiment of the ideal male. Traits include heterosexuality, whiteness, physical strength, and suppression of emotions that shows weakness.
• Complicit masculinity


  • Men who show some traits of hegemonic masculinity.
• Marginalized masculinity


  • Men who cannot be identified as hegemonic masculinity because of certain traits such as race. These men follow the norm behavior of men.
• Subordinate masculinity


  • Men who show the opposite traits of the hegemonic masculinity.
• Toxic masculinity traits


  • Suppression of emotions/making distress
  • Maintaining an appearance of hardness
  • Shows violence
  • Controlling others
  • Dominance
  • Sexual aggression
  • Bullying and harassment
  • Competitiveness
• Traditional standards of masculinity and being a man

  • Being perceived as "weak" due to crying or showing fear
  • Emphasis on physical strength
  • Professional success
  • Being the "breadwinner" of the family
  • Exerting dominance in relationships
  • Being assertive
  • Appearance standards (e.g., muscularity, facial/body hair, shorter hair)
  • Independent and self-reliant
• Mental health concerns among men and masculine-identified people


  • Anxiety
  • Depression (may emerge as irritability and anger)
  • Substance (ab)use
  • Social withdrawal and isolation
  • Body image and eating concerns
  • Self-harm (e.g., cutting, burning, scratching, hitting self in the head)
  • Suicidal thoughts and attempts
  • Inability to control/contain anger and aggression
  • Reduced self-confidence and self-esteem
  • Sexual health and intimacy concerns
  • Romantic relationship concerns
• Gender norms and behavior for men

  • Men must always be strong
  • Men can't be emotional
  • Men must dominate
  • Men are more entitled
  • Men must always win
  • Men are fearless
  • Men must initiate sex with women
  • Men are genetically programmed to be promiscuous
  • Men must provide for the family
  • Men must have heavy voices and they must love sports
• Gender norms and behavior are being taught rather than being learned naturally
• Strengths of being a male

  • Being a male is a gender privilege
• Weaknesses of being a male

  • Young males are now growing up without the expectation of stable employment
  • Being the backbone of the family can create high level of stress and anxiety for men
• Opportunities of being a male

  • Male who have physical and financial power tend to be viewed as desirable by women enviable for men
• Threats of being a male


  • Men believe that gender equality means losing some of their privileges
  • Job loss or being unable to provide for the family can have serious impact on a man's pride
• Impacts of gender norms and beliefs for men

  • Pressure and fear of ridicule if the high standard of manhood are not matched
  • Suppression of emotions causes inner turmoil and affects mental health
  • Men who cared for their wives are called "henpecked"
  • Women are expected to do what the man wants. This is also what leads to rapes.
  • Men are pressured to go to any extent-threat, violence, or cheating to win
  • They can't ask for help and must suffer alone
  • They are shamed if they complain of rape
  • The playboy image impacts women negatively
  • They feel emasculated if their spouse earns more
  • Even if someone is not queer and doesn't possess these "required" qualities they are ridiculed
• Men have the desire to be with other men and women in positive emotional and instrumental ways. Men express identification with each other. Hope for success, respect, and significant attachments to groups.
• LGBTQIA+


  Initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/ally, and plus (for other identities)
• Lesbian


  Women who are emotionally and sexually attracted to women
• Gay


  Men who are emotionally and sexually attracted to men
• Bisexual


  Sexually or romantically attracted to both men and women, or to more than one sex or gender
• Transgender


  When your gender identity (how you feel) is different from your physical sex (male/female)
• Queer


  Used by people who celebrate all gender identities, can also mean someone who do not want to be restricted as Lesbian, Gay, or Bi
• Intersex


  People who were born with sex genitals or chromosome patterns that do not fit the typical male or female body
• Asexual/Ally


  Asexual are people who do not feel sexual attraction to anyone, but it does not mean that they do not engage in romantic or sexual relationships. Allies are straight or heterosexual people who are fighting for LGBT rights.
• Plus


  The plus sign refers to all sexualities that do not fit in the LGBTQI spectrum
• Agender


  Not having a gender or identifying with a gender. They may describe themselves as being gender-neutral or genderless.
• Bigender


  A person who fluctuates between traditionally "male" and "female" gender-based behaviours and identities.
• Gender


  Your internal sense of being masculine or feminine or neither.
• Gender identity


  How you feel, man, women, or neither.
• Gender expression


  How you express your sense of being male or female or neither, maybe through hairstyle, clothes, etc.
• Sexual orientation


  Your emotional and sexual attraction to a person.
• Sex assigned at birth

  Your given sex when were born based on your sex organ.
• Cisgender


  When your gender identity matches with the sex you are assigned at birth.
• Sexual behavior


  Any activity that induces sexual arousal for potential partners (courtship displays or rituals) or to enhance sexual experience. Refers to a broad spectrum of behavior in which human display their sexuality. Can be solitary, between two persons or in a group.
• Sexual response cycle


  Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm, Resolution
• Erogenous zones


  Parts of the body that are primarily receptive to sexual arousal when touched in sexual manner. Includes the mouth, breast, genitals and anus. Erogenous zones may vary from one person to another.
• Types of sexual behavior

  • Solitary
  • Sociosexual (heterosexual or homosexual)
• Solitary sexual behavior


  Also known as self-gratification. Means self-stimulation that leads to sexual arousal and generally, sexual climax. Takes place in private as an end in itself. Generally, begin at or before puberty. Very common among unmarried males, but also present among females.
• Solitary sexual behaviors


  • Celibacy
  • Erotic dreams
  • Fantasies
  • Masturbation