Stigma, stereotypes, and status: How North American outdoor educators understand and experience masculinity

Abstract

Although multiple studies have considered women’s experiences in the outdoor education field and the impact on women’s notions of gender, little research has been conducted on men’s experiences and ideas about gender in the outdoors. This research explores male outdoor leaders’ notions about masculinity and how they may shape their practice. Interview, observation, and artefactual data were recorded and analyzed to determine the 18 male-identifying participants’ ideas about masculinity in the outdoor education realm. Participants expressed confusion about rapidly changing gender norms, worries about stigmatization, distaste for hypermasculine performances, and a generally progressive outlook about gender issues. In addition, multiple participant statements reinforced gender essentialism, demonstrating adherence to a hybrid masculinity.

Men's Perspectives on Gender Relations in the Outdoor Education Field: Furthering the Case for a Hybrid Masculinity

“…The persistence of hegemonic norms in OAE has been established by multiple scholars and was demonstrated in this study. However, recent social movements and changes to OAE practice that incorporate stereotypically feminine skills (Kennedy, 2022; Ouellet & Laberge, 2021) may indicate changes to men's conceptions of their masculinity in OAE. Elsewhere, I have argued that men's claims of changes to practice, together with denigration of men who enact hypermasculine or socially conservative masculinities, may constitute a new dominant masculinity in OAE (Kennedy, 2022).…”

“…However, recent social movements and changes to OAE practice that incorporate stereotypically feminine skills (Kennedy, 2022; Ouellet & Laberge, 2021) may indicate changes to men's conceptions of their masculinity in OAE. Elsewhere, I have argued that men's claims of changes to practice, together with denigration of men who enact hypermasculine or socially conservative masculinities, may constitute a new dominant masculinity in OAE (Kennedy, 2022). Bridges and Pascoe (2014) postulated that privileged men, such as the mostly White, middle- and upper-middle-class men that participated in this study, may enact a hybrid masculinity.…”

“…Despite the claims of devaluation not involving the participants directly, denial of the women leaders' perspectives likely functions to pre-emptively reject their own implications in such practices. Moreover, the attribution of gendered devaluation to "bad apples" can be a method of scapegoating subordinated groups of men, upholding a hegemonic masculine hierarchy (Kennedy, 2022).…”

“…In this article, informed by Paechter's (2006) notion that inter-gender interactions can either reduce or strengthen perceived gendered group boundaries, I focus on men's attitudes toward and interactions with women OAE leaders and students. Findings are then compared with my previous assertion (Kennedy, 2022) of dominant hybrid masculinity in OAE culture.…”

“…Despite calls in the OAE literature (Warren, 2015) there has been, to date, little research on men's notions of masculinity in the OAE subculture. Elsewhere, I have considered men outdoor leaders' definitions of masculinity, their influences on them, and how men's conceptions influence their values and practices in OAE (Kennedy, 2022). In this article, informed by Paechter's (2006) notion that inter-gender interactions can either reduce or strengthen perceived gendered group boundaries, I focus on men's attitudes toward and interactions with women OAE leaders and students.…”