Critical Masculinity Studies and Research on Violence Against Women: An Assessment of Past Scholarship and Future Directions

Abstract

This article investigates the role of critical masculinity theory on the field of violence against women (VAW). We conduct a meta-analysis to discern which theories of masculinity have been used within the journal Violence Against Women over the past 25 years. This search revealed that many articles use masculinity concepts but do not always articulate explicit theories of masculinity. We review hegemonic masculinity and male peer support, two of the most commonly used theories of masculinity and violence. We then discuss new developments within masculinity scholarship, including theories of manhood acts, inclusive masculinity, and hybrid masculinity, and consider how these perspectives can enhance the already robust scholarship on masculinity and VAW.

Hidden Dramas of Masculinity: Women’s Perspectives on Intimate Violence in Different Social Classes

“…To make sense of the contrasting public and private faces that men present, I will expand upon the theoretical work on masculinities by Raewyn Connell and James Messerschmidt. Although there are many others writing about masculinity, the work of Connell and Messerschmidt has been highly influential (Berggren et al, forthcoming; Morris & Ratajczak, 2019). Drawing upon interviews with 60 women who have survived intimate violence, this article seeks to examine the conflicting faces of masculinity that abusive men present.…”

Masculinities, Sport, and Violence Against Women: The Contribution of Male Peer Support Theory

“…On the question of changes being made, some researchers have been arguing that a “soft masculinity” is now being found in such places as Australian football, where homophobic masculinity is on the decline, and with it the need for men to forcefully and vocally act hyper-masculine to prove to themselves and others that they are not homosexual (Murray & White, 2017). There have been similar findings of reduced homophobia in other observations (Morris & Ratajczak, 2019), but the question remains as to whether these behaviors are real behavioral and attitudinal changes that must be accounted for or superficial changes that allow men to look progressive while at the same time enabling these same men to both reap and promote the advantages of gender privilege (Bridges & Pascoe, 2014). It is difficult to discover from the studies thus far whether these changes are real, or even if they are widespread.…”

“…It is a more microlevel theory, centering on the actual things that men do to claim patriarchal privilege and to act out claims of ownership of relationships, place, and space. Morris and Ratajczak (2019) argue that because this theory and MPS theory share presuppositions there is room for such a merger.…”

“…However, those who proclaim that the new toxic masculinities are divorced from concepts of patriarchy are no doubt moving faster than the culture, which retains enormous gendered power relations. To some degree, the discovery of these new masculinities may reflect more of a renaming of similar beliefs rather than a splintering of the movement into newer formations (Morris & Ratajczak, 2019). Of course, the largest and most used formulation in this field, the notion of hegemonic masculinity, presumes that only a smaller number of men can reach this ideal and that there are numerous marginalized masculinities of people who formed their own alternatives, and subordinate masculinities of people who did not expect to fully live up to the ideal (Connell, 1995).…”

“…This article attempts to reinvigorate interest in that relationship by highlighting the value of male peer support (MPS) theory in explaining the connection between sport, masculinities, and violence against women. This theoretic was recently termed one of the two “most commonly used theories of masculinity and violence” (Morris & Ratajczak, 2019, p. 1980). We update earlier works on MPS theory to consider the broader understandings and findings of scholars in recent years.…”