Quantifying gender norm resistance

Nielson, Matthew G.; Martin, Carol Lynn; Rogers, Leoandra Onnie; Miller, Cindy Faith; England, Dawn E.

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.09.008

Cited by 3 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The majority of young men in our sample ( n = 26) also described direct GNR that was similar to the direct GNR of younger samples (Nielson et al, 2020). Direct GNR for young men was largely motivated by a dislike of gender norms, but the extent to which dislike manifest in direct GNR differed across participants.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

“…We assessed 1) how men experienced GNR as young adults, 2) patterns of GNR development up to their current stage, and 3) whether GNR patterns of change were related to patterns of change in pressure to conform to gender norms or critical consciousness. To do so, we linked GNR theory that originated in studies of children and adolescence (Nielson et al, 2020;Way et al, 2014) with theories about the constraints of masculine norms experienced by adult men (Connell, 1987;Pleck, 1981). We investigated whether the types of resistance identified in adolescent populations were salient beyond adolescence, and we explored whether and how men's resistance changed as they matured.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the deductive analyses, we coded for constructs relevant to the development of GNR as described by the current literature on GNR (i.e., “template coding”; see Patton, 2002). These constructs included indirect GNR, direct GNR, pressure to conform to gender norms, and critical consciousness (Nielson et al, 2020; L. Rogers & Way, 2016).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Young Men’s Experience of Resistance to Masculine Norms

et al. 2022

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There are costs and benefits to conforming and resisting gender norms, and this ratio likely changes during the transition to adulthood. In this paper, we explore the development of young men’s masculine norm resistance from adolescence through emerging adulthood. Using thematic analysis on interviews with cisgender young adult men who reported feeling at least somewhat gender atypical ( N = 30, Mage = 23, White = 74%), we found that: (a) men reported more direct and indirect gender norm resistance (GNR) as they aged, (b) as men felt less pressure to conform to gender norms, they reported more ease with expressing indirect GNR, and (c) that direct GNR generally paralleled developing an understanding of critical consciousness of broader social inequities. Our study answers the call to utilize a developmental approach to study men and masculinities, and in so doing, illuminates men’s dynamic navigation of masculine norms during the transition into adulthood.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Young Men’s Experience of Resistance to Masculine Norms

et al. 2022

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“…Perhaps an unintended consequence of this has been a perpetuation of a “boy crisis” mentality that eclipses boys’ many emotional and relational competencies. Findings such as Smiler (2008) and Way (2011) suggest that resistance and defiance of male gender roles may be more common among boys than is appreciated (see also Nielson et al, 2020). In fact, in the strong majority of studies that we reviewed, boys consistently scored below the midpoint on self-report scales of masculinity ideology and masculine-norm adherence (Gupta et al, 2013; A.…”

Section: A Developmental-contextual Perspective Of Adolescent Masculi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First, studies can explore specific strategies that boys use to resist masculine gender roles. Boys’ resistance strategies may include direct (challenging or speaking out) and indirect (pursuing gender a-typical interests or activities) forms of opposition (Nielson et al, 2020). Research may help elucidate the prevalence and effectiveness of these varying strategies, and how these correspond to boys’ emotional health and well-being.…”

Section: A Developmental-contextual Perspective Of Adolescent Masculi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Manning up while growing up: A developmental-contextual perspective on masculine gender-role socialization in adolescence.

Rogers

Nielson

Santos

2021

Psychology of Men & Masculinities

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Adolescence is a critical period of development shaped by experiences with masculine role socialization. Although there is increasing scholarship on adolescent boys' masculinity, these approaches often mirror the same clinical and diagnostic frameworks used for studying adult men. This means that many issues pertinent to boys' development are often overlooked in masculinity research. In this synthesis, we locate scholarship on adolescent masculinity within a developmental-contextual paradigm. We first describe how masculinity is studied within the psychological sciences. We then provide a brief summary of the literature detailing the implications of boys' accommodations of masculinity. Finally, we invoke developmental-contextual principles to provide further synthesis of this literature and to identify new and nascent research directions that address boys' most salient developmental realities. We highlight boys' close interpersonal relationships as key socializing mechanisms of masculinity; their active and participatory role in masculine socialization; the broader sociocultural systems that shape this socialization; and the dynamic nature of these processes over time. It is our aim that this review can help advance continuing and effective work on adolescent boys' gender development. Public Significance StatementResearch in the past two decades evidences the relevance of masculine gender-role socialization during adolescence. Many youth devote significant energy to navigating male-role norms in their relationships and social environments. Their accommodation of masculine norms has identifiable implications for development in regards to health, relationships, and academics.

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When Is Masculinity “Fragile”? An Expectancy-Discrepancy-Threat Model of Masculine Identity

Stanaland

Gaither

Gassman‐Pines

2023

Pers Soc Psychol Rev

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Academic Abstract Manhood is a precarious social status. Under perceived gender identity threat, men are disproportionately likely to enact certain stereotype-consistent responses such as aggression to maintain their gender status. Yet less is known regarding individual variation in men’s threat responsiveness—that is, the psychological conditions under which one’s masculine identity is more or less “fragile.” We propose a novel model of masculine identity whereby masculine norm expectancy generates discrepancy within the self to the extent that rigid norms are internalized as obligational (actual-ought discrepancy) versus aspirational (actual-ideal discrepancy), which predict extrinsic versus intrinsic motivations to reduce these discrepancies, respectively. Under threat, then, extrinsic motivations predict externalized responses (e.g., aggression), and intrinsic motivations elicit internalized responses (e.g., anxiety, shame, self-harm). We also consider the conditions under which masculinity may be less fragile—for example, in contexts with less rigid expectations and among men who reject expectations—as pathways to mitigate adverse masculinity threat-related outcomes. Public Abstract In many cultures, men prove their manhood by engaging in behaviors that harm themselves and others (e.g., violence, sexism, homophobia), particularly people from marginalized groups. Yet less is known about why some men are more likely than others to enact these masculinity-proving behaviors. The goal of our model is to specify certain conditions under which masculinities become “fragile” and elicit these responses when under threat. We start by describing the rigid expectations men experience—for example, that they are strong and tough. We propose that these expectations cause men to experience different forms of discrepancy within themselves that produce corresponding motivations to reduce these discrepancies. Under threat, motivations driven by others’ expectations elicit outward attempts to restore masculine status (e.g., aggression), whereas motivations driven by self-ideals cause internalized responses (e.g., shame, self-harm). We conclude by discussing how to reduce these discrepancies, such as mitigating the rigidity of and encouraging men’s resistance to masculinity expectations.

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Quantifying gender norm resistance

Cited by 3 publications

References 34 publications

Exploring Young Men’s Experience of Resistance to Masculine Norms

Exploring Young Men’s Experience of Resistance to Masculine Norms

Manning up while growing up: A developmental-contextual perspective on masculine gender-role socialization in adolescence.

When Is Masculinity “Fragile”? An Expectancy-Discrepancy-Threat Model of Masculine Identity

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