Masculinities Under Neoliberalism

The Social Construction of Ageing Masculinities in Neoliberal Society – Reflections on Retired German Men.

“…All interviewees were from earliest childhood on trained to prove their superiority and right to being top dog in the male hierarchy through competitive games and challenges whilst growing up in a society increasingly dominated by neoliberal values which likely instilled a view of masculinity into them which is based on being active, productive, disciplined, rational and, most importantly, autonomous (Bourdieu, 2001). Their careers in the transnational and male-dominated corporate environment possibly further supported this understanding of masculinity whose main aspects the interviewees, for lack of alternative socio-cultural frames of older masculinity (Spector-Mersel, 2006), use to construct their identity as pensioners and as successful agers (Cornwall et al, 2016;Griffin, 2005;McDonald et al, 2017). However, during the interviews, it was also evident that older age had an impact on the self-perception of the participants.…”

“…Public discourses on the so-called crisis of masculinity in the closing years of the 20 th and the beginning years of the 21 st century lament the loss of conventional and binary gender constructions. Linked was the perceived emasculation of men which does not reflect the seemingly natural order although this natural an order is, at least in my view, neither natural nor standardisable but merely a reflection of the desire to secure patriarchal privilege (Allen et al, 2015;Baur & Luedtke, 2008;Bourdieu, 2001;Cornwall et al, 2016).…”

“…In neoliberal societies which primarily evaluate everything and everybody by the respective market value, men can and do retain some of their male privileges if they are good neoliberal citizens and do everything in their power to support everlasting youthfulness by individual determination and by consuming products and services which aid the prevention or at least deferral of age-related mental and bodily decay (Cornwall, Karioris, & Lindisfarne, 2016;Griffin, 2005). Viagra has enabled men to stay sexually active (Moore & Reynolds, 2016) regardless of age while being sportive and socially active throughout one's life is communicated in public discourse as ensuring physical and mental fitness in older age (Beynon, 2001;Kimmel, 2001).…”

“…Social recognition and linked status are in neoliberal meritocracy majorly determined by the professional position one has. Since as discussed in chapter 7.1 my interviewees in many ways matched the criteria hegemonic masculinity is characterised by, I assumed that their career progression and professional position would play a crucial role in the identity construction of the participants (Cornwall et al, 2016;Gill, 2008;Mac an Ghaill, 2003). To some degree the answers of my interviewees confirmed this assumption but, and somehow to my surprise, the ambiguity evident in each individual interview and across the interviews with regards to gender differences and the construction of their own masculinity also surfaced when the questions focussed on their career progression.…”

“…The above quotes of my participants are an expression of a value system which centres around notions of straightforwardness, fairness, authenticity and integrity whilst disapproving hierarchical structures, underhandedness, gaining profit on the expense of others and greed -aspects which characterise today's practices in the corporate world (Bourdieu, December 1998;Chomsky, 1999;Cornwall et al, 2016). One could, therefore, say that the interviewees represent a dying out species of men in today's harsh, competitive and unforgiving environment of neoliberal greed for profit and social recognition.…”