Collective Masculinity: Understanding the Behavior of Men in Groups

This paper explores the concept of collective masculinity and its impact on individuals and society. The author explains the concept of collective masculinity and provides examples from media and real life to support the explanation. The paper also discusses the impact of collective masculinity on individuals and society, including the influence of violent video games on young males and the harassment of female workers in the workplace. The author concludes that while there have been some changes in the definition and interpretation of collective masculinity, it remains a significant issue in society.

Running head: COLLECTIVE MASCULINITY
COLLECTIVE MASCULINITY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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Robert W Connell in his seminal work “Understanding Men: Gender Sociology and the
New International research on Masculinities”, summarized the findings of his research on six
theses (Connell, 2001). These included multiple masculinities, hierarchy and hegemony,
collective masculinities, active construction, internal complexity and dynamics. The present
paper will focus on the thesis collective masculinities and try to explain elaborately through
examples from the media and real life.
Masculinities or femininities are mostly interpreted through an individual’s conduct or
behavior within the society. To put it in simpler words, masculinity is not gender specific but it is
based on behavior of individuals. Apart from male, females also have traits of masculinity.
However, masculinity interestingly could be defined collectively as well. Collective masculinity
refers to the behavior of a group of individuals within an institution like schools, colleges or
workplaces. The preconceived notions of masculinity are affirmed concretely by the violent
video games that most youngsters are engaged in these days. In other sport as well, violence is
attributed to men. Within the mainstream media, almost daily one could find news on the
competition and hard core training of the male sportspersons. This compels the male to maintain
their so-called masculinity defined collectively and in doing so, they are often dragged towards
depression and other mental issues.
The influence of violent video games on young males is a good example of this type of
masculinity. Recently, an infamous virtual game made headlines across the globe as it had
claimed more than hundred lives (Bbc.com, 2018). The game called the Blue Whale Challenge is
an exemplary instance of collective masculinity because it involves the completion of certain
challenges that are risky and ultimately end in suicide. In order to claim their masculinity, young,
school going children are attracted to this challenge game and commit suicide. In the majority of

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cases, teenage boys have been the victim to this game. The reason could be the compelling desire
to prove their masculinity amongst their peer circle. The creator of this game also targeted the
youth population because it is the most vulnerable age group especially because the influence
possessing the so-called perfect masculinity is the most within this group (Ramamurthy, 2017).
In the day-to-day life, there are many examples of collective masculinity that impact
other individuals as well. In the workplace especially, some men form a group for harassing the
female workers and that they think, proves their masculinity. The male workers feel it is their
ultimate masculine responsibility to utilize their masculine traits charming and attracting female
workers. In this way, they turn the sometimes playful flirtations into sexual harassment and make
it difficult for the females to work.
In recent years, this aspect of masculinity has seen some changes but these are not
prominent enough. The growing acceptance of gay relationships has also had some sort of
influence on this type of masculinity because of the formation of the LGBT community where
masculinity is not deemed from the traditional perspective. Furthermore, as Connell has
described in other theses, masculinity is seen defined and interpreted differently in different
cultures. Hence, it would not be correct to assert that there has been any change in the definition
or interpretation of collective masculinity.

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References:
Bbc.com. (2018). 'Blue Whale game' blamed in US teen death. Retrieved from
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40561086
Connell, R. W. (2001). Understanding men: Gender sociology and the new international research
on masculinities. Social thought & research, 24(1/2), 13-31.
Ramamurthy, P. (2017). The blue whale challenge: Why do people commit suicide for an online
game?. Journal of Current Research in Scientific Medicine, 3(2), 137.