Predictors and Correlates of South African University Students’ Perceptions of Metrosexuality as an Acceptable Form of Contemporary Masculinity

ABSTRACT

As little is known about the views of university students on metrosexual masculinities in South Africa, the aim of this study was to investigate the predictors and correlates of a group of 200 undergraduate students’ perceptions on whether metrosexuality should be considered as an acceptable form of contemporary masculinity. Results from the structured survey indicated that students’ race and levels of religiosity were not associated with the extent to which they viewed metrosexuality as acceptable. By contrast, in relation to sex/gender, female students exhibited more accepting attitudes towards metrosexuality than their male counterparts. Furthermore, the more importance students ascribed to media portrayals of orthodox masculinity as well as to primary gender-role socialisation, the less likely they were to accept metrosexuality. The study contributes to current research on masculinities by investigating metrosexuality as the primary theme, underscoring the similarities between South African and Anglo-American theorisation on the topic, foregrounding the perceptions of millennials in conceptualising and understanding contemporary masculinity, and problematising notions that South African students ascribe to homogenous or monolithic views of masculinity.

KEYWORDS:

• Homosociality
• hybrid masculinity
• metrosexuality
• orthodox masculinity
• South Africa

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 We wish to differentiate the use of inclusive and orthodox masculinity from Connell’s (1987) hegemonic masculinity theory. In traditional terms, the hegemonic masculinity posits men as being mainly aggressive, heteronormative and patriarchal. Recent scholarship, however, critiques this monolithic use of the concept. Studies indicate that there exists “multiple hegemonic masculinities”, i.e. it is flexible, relational and context-specific (Connell and Messerschmidt 2005; Demetriou 2001; Howson 2006). For the purpose of the present study, it is therefore important to differentiate between hegemonic and orthodox masculinities. Orthodox masculinity represents “a masculine archetype” which values patriarchy and heteronormativity, whereas hegemonic masculinities, according to Anderson (2009), posits hegemony “as a social process” (Campbell et al. 2018: 217).

2 The items used to measure students’ levels of religiosity included, among others, references to the importance students ascribe to their religious beliefs; praying; attending religious services and make decisions in their everyday lives.

3 The items used to measure the importance students ascribe to primary gender-role socialisation included, among others, their attitudes towards gender-specific clothing, activities and the use of verbal appellations that distinguish men from women.

4 The items used to measure the extent to which print and online magazine portrayals of masculinity influence the students’ understanding and perceptions about masculine ideals, e.g. representations of “real men” as muscular; keeping-up with the newest fashion trends and using products to express their masculinity.

5 These items used to measure metrosexuality included references to students’ attitudes about the acceptability of men wearing makeup; spending money on designer clothing and their grooming; going for facial treatments; men favouring plastic surgery and posting selfies on social media platforms.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jacques Rothmann

Jacques Rothmann is an associate professor in Sociology at the North-West University, Potchefstroom campus. His key research interests include gender and sexuality studies, with a particular focus on lesbian and gay studies. He has published on a number of gender and sexuality foci including gay masculinity and sexual identity in higher education. He established and convened the Lesbian, Gay and Queer Studies working group for the South African Sociological Association, and is a National Research Foundation-rated researcher.

Katlego Piitso

Katlego Piitso is a Master’s student in Industrial Sociology, and is currently pursuing her Master of Arts degree in Industrial Sociology at the North West University. She successfully completed her Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Sociology in 2019 and obtained her Bachelor of Social Sciences degree, majoring in Sociology and Geography, from the North-West University in 2018.

Werner Nell

Professor Werner Nell PhD, Sociologist, started his academic career as a student assistant in the Sociology department in 1996, and is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences at the North-West University. Werner obtained his PhD in Sociology in 2005 at the North-West University, and completed a Master’s degree in Positive Psychology at the same institution in 2014. His main research field is the study of psychosocial well-being, especially in relation to religion and spirituality, as well as the natural environment.