Hegemonic masculinity

• Hegemonic masculinity is a concept which is part of Connells gender order theory- a practice that authorises male domination and subordination of women
• Non hegemonic- Blanche's late gay husband, effeminate Mitch
• allan is a victim of heteronormativity
• The cultural clash between Blanche and Stanley is wholly symbolic of the ostentatious values of the Old Aristocratic South versus the societal evolution of New Orleans- immigration, masculinity drivers of the American social landscape
• The rise of market economy and republican government sees a shift to self made manhood but after ww2 there was a rise of passionate manhood an expression of self- living the way they desired pursuing pleasures
• Stanley's pleasure is prioritised over Stella and Blanche's comfort, poker scene- 'go upstairs and sit with Eunice' - ignoring the context that it was early morning and the poker was noisy.
• any threats to ones masculinity resulted in defensiveness and aggression such as Stella calling Stanley an 'animal' which causes him to whack her thigh
• Napoleonic code- a legal code acknowledged in New Orleans from French colonial rule that gave a husband authority over his wife's assets. Stanley has interest in gaining control over Stella's assets. Stella is economically dependant on Stanley, trapped. 'I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley'
• treatment of blanche- blanche's facade of Chasity is at odds with her provocative dress habits 'red silks', satin, costume jewellery', her attempts at seducing the 'young man'. She obtains masculine energy in this seduction which an audience of the 1940s would've found disturbing.
• Stanley's sexual prowess is encouraged- 'richly feathered male bird among hens'
• Stanley's pyschological hold over Stella results in subservience and entrapment.
• Stanley is the emodiment of the archetypal machismo and capitalist greed which permeated the post war landscape. He is an emblem of the new America
• Stanley's sexuality and virility are interconnected. His violence to Blanche is because she is a threat to his masculinity
• Blanche is ostracised and abused due to her continual failure to resign herself to subordination on the basis of her gender