Back in 1984, Franklin identified male-valued traits that were typically linked to being masculine, including aggression, dominance and a lack of emotion. While thankfully much has moved on since then, perceptions of what it means to be masculine are still frequently linked within research to rigid behaviours and traits, most noticeably around sexism and lack of emotion (Levant & Richmond, 2016).
These ideas are particularly concerning given the constant pressure faced by many men and boys to constantly assert, prove and maintain their masculinity (Vandello & Bosson, 2013). The pressure to perform this idea of masculinity can have a significant negative impact on men’s mental health, as well as having serious consequences for the people around them and wider society (Morin, 2020), as some men’s attitudes and behaviours can end up being driven by others’ expectations, rather than their own wishes and values.
An example of this sort of behaviour is if a male athlete shares a sexist meme with their teammates on WhatApp, even if the recipients are uncomfortable with this or recognise is as problematic, the ‘traditional’ definition of what it means to be masculine dictates that the ‘correct’ response is to laugh along, and perhaps continue the ‘joke’ by sharing something even more extreme themselves. Burrell’s (2021) study of male student athletes even found that behaviours which would typically be considered problematic, such as turning up drunk at a partner’s house and demanding to be let in, were actually viewed sympathetically by other males when considered through the lens of expected masculine behaviours.
So, what can be done to address this? There is a growing acceptance among psychologists that identifying and promoting a healthier, more positive definition of masculinity is a valuable tool in tackling problematic behaviour and attitudes, and could even act as a protective factor for many men and boys (Kiselica et al, 2016).
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