Summary Of Hegemonic Masculinity By Peggy Reeves

Trying to fit in with society can be challenging, as it can be overwhelming trying to keep up with social norms. But after reading Peggy Reeves article on Hegemonic Masculinity, as a male in my early years of adulthood I can say it changed my perspective on how different males go through different social challenges and pressures just so they can feel accepted, resulting in different reactions and outcomes from teenagers.

The article goes over many social concepts that we see in today’s world, the article describes the different traits people use to define a man’s masculinity. According to Peggy Reeves, Industrialized societies often view traits as “athleticism, courage, rationality, and heterosexuality as markers of an ideal manliness”. Reeves states that, “hegemonic masculinities are often used to construct gendered hierarchies in societies”. The article also talks about how the males of a Caribbean Island named Martinique are dependent on proving their masculinity via the pursuit of women, and that men who fail to pursuit women are usually seen as a “sissy”. Reeves then goes on about how many males are pressured in to doing sexual gestures usually illegal and without the female’s consent, who is most likely intoxicated, they have males do these things so they can
It is mind blowing to me that there are males out there that are willing to ruin their lives, as well as the females, over something like getting accepted in to a group for social rank. Having ridiculous guidelines like these just to be accepted can play a heavy factor when it comes to mental health, being bullied for not being “good enough” is absurd, if the male does commit a sexual crime it can have a very bad effect on the victim, it can destroy the victim