Hegemonic masculinity: theory and social construction of crime Cover Image

Męskość hegemoniczna: teoria i społeczne konstruowanie przestępstwa
Hegemonic masculinity: theory and social construction of crime

Author(s): Zbyszko Melosik
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Social Theory, Criminology
Published by: Fundacja Pedagogium
Keywords: hegemonic masculinity; crime; social dominance; compensation;

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to analysing one of the „gender-sensitive” crime theories which is strictly connected with the hegemonic masculinity concept. Two crime contexts of hegemonic masculinity are considered. The first one is related to practicing crime by men who do have hegemonic position in society, in one or another way. The second one relates to crime committed by men who are deprived of it. Also, the hegemonic masculinity is seen both in the light of gender to the certain extent relations (masculinity versus femininity) and in the light of social stratification of masculinities. In the article various versions of hegemonic masculinity are reconstructed and to the certain extent confronted with cultural and social reality, also in the crime sphere. The attention is paid to crime committed by working class men to compensate their social marginalization. Also, the hegemonic masculinity based on class position, status and income is compared to the black hipersexual masculinity and macho violent masculinity. In his article the author does not absolutize the hegemonic masculinity theory and does not treat it as macro explonatory. He is convinced that this concept has in the field of crime an interesting potential but also its obvious limitations.

  • Issue Year: 21/2021
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 9-22
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish