Hegemonic masculinity and representations of men on television

The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the portrayal of masculinity on television to ascertain if those men deemed in power are portraying hegemonic masculinity. Gender roles are extremely important to sense of self and personal identity. Hegemonic masculinity is a type of masculinity proposed by R. W. Connell in which men who are already in power, remain in power by dominating and subjugating other types of masculinities and women. The study of media and gender has focused mostly on women with very Little research on how media has affected men. If portrayals of hegemony are being broadcasted on television there becomes a cumulative effect on how the world "works" for audiences. Young men learn traits and characteristics in which they need to gain power, while women may become blind to male dominance by extended exposure. The paper will analyze prime-time television shows and analyze how the male characters act and are perceived by others. This will lead to further analysis and distinction between historical and current ideas of masculinity.