Masculinity Ideology, Male Identity, and Romantic Relationship Quality Among Heterosexual and Gay Men

Wade, Jay C.; Donis, Eric

doi:10.1007/s11199-007-9303-4

Cited by 52 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 49 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Yet by following these rules of hegemonic masculinity, men may be experiencing disadvantages in at least two ways: first, in terms of lower quality romantic relationships (Wade & Donis, 2007) and second, in terms of the benefits offered by care work (here, emotion work), including feelings of being emotionally fulfilled (Hanlon, 2012). However, men are unlikely to change unless these benefits offset losses of privilege that occur as relationships become more equal (Hunt & Hunt, 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender, Emotion Work, and Relationship Quality: A Daily Diary Study

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We use the gender relations perspective from feminist theorizing to investigate how gender and daily emotion work predict daily relationship quality in 74 couples (148 individuals in dating, cohabiting, or married relationships) primarily from the southwest U.S. Emotion work is characterized by activities that enhance others’ emotional well-being. We examined emotion work two ways: trait (individuals’ average levels) and state (individuals’ daily fluctuations). We examined actor and partner effects of emotion work and tested for gender differences. As outcome variables, we included six types of daily relationship quality: love, commitment, satisfaction, closeness, ambivalence, and conflict. This approach allowed us to predict three aspects of relationship quality: average levels, daily fluctuations, and volatility (overall daily variability across a week). Three patterns emerged. First, emotion work predicted relationship quality in this diverse set of couples. Second, gender differences were minimal for fixed effects: Trait and state emotion work predicted higher average scores on, and positive daily increases in, individuals’ own positive relationship quality and lower average ambivalence. Third, gender differences were more robust for volatility: For partner effects, having a partner who reported higher average emotion work predicted lower volatility in love, satisfaction, and closeness for women versus greater volatility in love and commitment for men. Neither gender nor emotion work predicted average levels, daily fluctuations, or volatility in conflict. We discuss implications and future directions pertaining to the unique role of gender in understanding the associations between daily emotion work and volatility in daily relationship quality for relational partners.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender, Emotion Work, and Relationship Quality: A Daily Diary Study

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The few studies that have focused on gay men have examined how concerns over masculine ideals are related to symptoms of depression and anxiety (Simonsen, Blazina, & Watkins, 2000), body image and muscularity concerns (Halkitis et al, 2008; Kimmel & Mahalik, 2005), high risk behaviors (Hamilton & Mahalik, 2009), and relationship dissatisfaction (Wade & Donis, 2007; Wester, Pionke, & Vogel, 2005). Only one peer-reviewed study has directly considered how concerns over violating masculine ideals are related to negative feelings about one’s sexual orientation (Szymanski & Carr, 2008).…”

Section: Masculinity and Negative Feelings About Being Gaymentioning

confidence: 99%

Masculine gender role conflict and negative feelings about being gay.

Sánchez¹,

Westefeld²,

Liu³

et al. 2010

Professional Psychology: Research and Practice

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Professional psychologists who work with gay men have noted that traditional masculine ideals play a prominent role in the gay community whereby some endorse these traditional ideals and stigmatize effeminate behavior by other gay men. One hypothesis is that this behavior reflects negative feelings about being gay. This article examined this hypothesis by reporting the results of an online survey of 622 self-identified gay men. Participants completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale, Lesbian and Gay Identity Scale, the Social Desirability Scale, and questions related to the importance of masculinity. Results showed that most participants valued the public appearance of masculinity; and they ideally wished to be more masculine than they felt they were (Cohen's d = 0.42). A multiple regression analysis showed that the degree to which they valued masculinity and were concerned with violating masculine ideals was positively related with negative feelings about being gay (Cohen's f 2 = .67). These findings highlight the importance of exploring the role that masculine ideals play in gay client's lives given that negative feelings about oneself can adversely affect psychological well-being.Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Francisco "Cisco" J. Sánchez, Department of Human Genetics, 695 Charles Young Dr. S #5524, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7088. Electronic mail may be sent to fjsanchez@mednet.ucla.edu. Francisco J. Sánchez received his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Iowa in 2005. He is currently a psychology research fellow in the Center for Gender-Based Biology and the Department of Human Genetics at the UCLA School of Medicine. His major research interest is the biopsychology of sexual orientation and gender identity. John S. Westefeld received his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in 1978. He is currently a professor in counseling psychology at the University of Iowa. His major research interest is suicide. William Ming Liu received his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Maryland in 2000. He is currently the program director of the University of Iowa's Counseling Psychology Program. His research interests are men's issues, social class and poverty, and multicultural competency. Eric Vilain received his PhD in genetics from the Pasteur Institute in 1994 and his MD from the Universite Pierre et Marie Curie in 1995. He is a professor in the departments of Human Genetics, Pediatrics, and Urology; he is the Chief of Medical Genetics; and he is the Director of the Center for Gender-Based Biology at the UCLA School of Medicine. His research interests include the genetic bases of sex determination, sex differences in the brain, and the development of gender identity and sexual orientation. This article resulted from a doctoral dissertation project conducted by F. J. Sánchez under the supervision of J. S. Westefeld. This study was supported by the Malyon-Smith Scholarship Fund presented by Division 44 and the Gamma ...

show abstract

“…adherence to traditional masculinity ideology (HM), and a lack of psychological intimacy with other men (Wade & Donis, 2007). Further, in a sample of men who were clinically depressed, adherence to HM was a strong predictor of suicidality, because depression was viewed as a threat to the men's masculine identity (Emslie, Ridge, Ziebland, & Hunt, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Smashing back Doors in: Negative Attitudes toward Bottoms within the Gay Community

Brooks

Reysen

Shaw³

2017

WJSSR

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the current study, we examined the relationship between hegemonic masculinity and negative attitudes toward effeminacy with prejudice toward sex-role identities in the gay community. Participants recruited from LGBTQA+ student groups from across the United States, completed measures related to their adherence toward hegemonic masculinity, attitudes toward effeminacy, and opinions about bottoms (men who prefer to be penetrated during anal intercourse). The results showed, first, established evidence that a prejudice toward bottoms does exist. Second, anti-effeminacy attitudes,hostile and benevolent sexism, and male toughness norms predicted prejudice toward bottoms. Taken together, the results illuminate both the importance of sex-role identities within the gay community, and marginalization within the community directed toward men who identify as bottoms.

show abstract

Masculinity Ideology, Male Identity, and Romantic Relationship Quality Among Heterosexual and Gay Men

Cited by 52 publications

References 49 publications

Gender, Emotion Work, and Relationship Quality: A Daily Diary Study

Gender, Emotion Work, and Relationship Quality: A Daily Diary Study

Masculine gender role conflict and negative feelings about being gay.

Smashing back Doors in: Negative Attitudes toward Bottoms within the Gay Community

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About