Ruptures in hegemonic masculinity: the dialectic between ideology and utopia

Abstract

In the 1990s, Raewyn Connell published her groundbreaking study on the transformation of masculinity. In Masculinities, the concept of hegemonic masculinity was put forward as a key concept in gender studies. Originally applied in Marxian studies to power and class, the concept of hegemony was now used to analyse a historically mobile and dynamic power structure and hierarchical relation between different groups of men and women. Although using the concept of hegemonic masculinity is considered a powerful way of approaching and analysing gender relations, the main question is whether this conceptual turn, in fact, leads to a more dynamic theory of masculinity and gender. The main objective of this article is to contribute to conceptual clarifications and to the theorizing on gender, hegemony and masculinity. The conceptual and theoretical exploration aims at opening up ways of redefining and reconceptualizing hegemonic masculinity. Using Ricoeur's and Laclau and Mouffe's theorizations of hegemony, the concept of hegemonic masculinity is expanded and reformulated. A short case study of contemporary Scandinavian fatherhood is used to discuss the empirical implications of this theoretical effort.

Keywords::

• hegemonic masculinity
• ideology
• utopia
• subjectivity
• fatherhood

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Thomas Johansson

Thomas Johansson is a Professor of Education. He has written extensively in the field of gender studies, the sociology of the family and youth research. Johansson's recent books include The Transformation of Sexuality, Ashgate, 2007, and Young Migrants, Palgrave, 2011, with Katrine Fangen and Nils Hammarén. Johansson has published articles on gender, ethnicity and identity in journals such as Men & Masculinities, Ethnicity, Acta Sociologica, Journal of Family Communication, Young, Journal of Men's Studies and Journal of Youth Studies.

Andreas Ottemo

Andreas Ottemo is a PhD student in education. His main interest and area of work is in feminist studies of gender and technology relations.