Masculinity constructions among Norwegian male break(danc)ers

Abstract

This article explores how masculinity is exhibited among young male breakers in Oslo, Norway. It is part of a larger project drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and 17 semi-structured interviews with male and female breakers. The article focuses on the 11 male breakers, as the objective is to analyze how young male breakers construct their masculinities - how these are formed, performed and (re)negotiated through breaking. The results show that the breakers’ masculinity constructions are formed from breaking’s legacy, which works as a frame for their masculinity performances. Through a combination of Connells’s social theory of masculinities and social interactionism, I discuss how the breakers’ collective performance of an exaggerated, aggressive masculinity signifies resistance to hegemonic masculinity in the gender order.

Keywords:

• Hegemonic masculinity
• protest masculinity
• front and back stage
• dance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Tonje F. Langnes is an Associate Professor at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. Her main interests are youth culture, gender, minorities and dance.