The Role of Hegemonic Masculinity in Sexual Assault of Women

Running head: GENDER CRIME
GENDER CRIME
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Author Note

2GENDER CRIME
The concept of hegemonic masculinity was propounded by R.W. Connell and was first
originated through research on social inequality in Australian Schools. The early phases of 1980s
saw substantial research and studies relating to masculinity and gender discrimination in the
societies. In studies relating to gender issues and societal role of gender, the concept of
hegemonic masculinity by R.W. Connell is a ground breaking work that reflects the past and the
current conceptions about gender roles and domination of the one gender over other in terms of
social status, occupation and power. The theory by Connell revolves around the gender order
theory and recognizes the various masculinities that are practiced in the society around us and is
expanded over time, culture and geography. The hegemonic masculinity is generally attributed
by expression of power through forms of violence, discrimination or domination. It is defined as
a practice legitimizing the dominant act of expression by men and justifies the subordination of
women and other non general ways of masculine expression, mostly feminine expression of men.
The concept of hegemonistic masculinity explains the reasons why and how men dominate social
roles over women and other gender identities which are generally categorised as feminine in a
prejudiced society (Demetriou, 2001). Though the concept of the hegemonistic masculinity as
proposed by R.W. Connell brings in a lot of criticism as expected but has influenced gender
studies across the globe.
The traditional modern society has continuously evolved but the basic aspects and tenets
that have identified the role of gender have remained same. The social constructs have evolved
from prejudiced social interpretations and the major sections of the American and the European
societies have developed on the standardized roles of gender. The description of a perfect
machoistic male person is identified with certain traits while the women are similarly associated
with certain role that acts as a basic framework for individuals to follow. The societal pressure

3GENDER CRIME
influences the man and the woman to align themselves with these social constructs and be an
ideal representation of the standards. Thus the masculine hegemony is not just an expression of
male dominance or superiority but is actually an evolution of the prejudices that have created
such social constructs and forces a male gender to perform the role hat aligns with such
constructs and thus give rise to hegemonic masculinity. The reflection of the male power
domination and superiority is thus expressed in forms of sexual assault over the inferior women,
or effeminate men and children to some extent.
As a purview of sociology the concept of hegemonistic masculinity is originated from the
tenets of cultural hegemony first brought forward by Antonio Gramsci, a Marxian theorist who
has described the difference in power among the social classes in the society. The term
‘hegemony’ is derived from the social segregation of power and is derived from the distinction
of power among different sections of the society. The origin of hegemonistic masculinity in the
society has not developed in a day but has evolved over time by idealizing the norms of
masculine traits that has been laid down through time and most importantly the way they have
been represented as a standard of manhood with traits and attributes that contradict certain
normal psychological expressions. Though many sociologists have criticized the way
hegemonistic masculinity is defined as a fixed character type limited by its analysis of character,
it fails to define or describe the complexity of the male character and the different forms of
masculinity that are prevalent yet can neither be regarded within the given hegemonistic
definition of masculinity and therefore is criticized on grounds of incompetent explanation. The
psychosocial dynamics of the male gender and the gender hierarchy has been excluded while
defining hegemonistic masculinity in various forms and across geographies and thus
reformulation of the concept has been done by the proposer of the theory.