Challenge To The American Hegemonic Masculinity Since The 1960s

Gender relations have long been the hot subject for sociologists to explore. Women have been under studies for centuries. Men, privileged by the existing sex paradigm, didn't arouse sociologists' interest until the oppressed stood up and fought back.The United States is a nation where men have been exercising dominance over women. Even American men can be categorized into different groups. Different groups of men and women are connected in power relations. The group of men positioning on the top of power hierarchy have been oppressing the others. They are believed to possess hegemonic masculinity. The others are related with the dominating group in the relation of subordination. However, change in the meaning of masculinity will happen when tensions between the top group and others occur.The thesis aims to demonstrate the crisis in American hegemonic masculinity since the 1960s. Through American history, women and gay men have been suffering oppression from white, heterosexual, middle-class men who showed hegemonic masculinity. In the patriarchal society, masculinity is promoted, while femininity is subdued. Women, therefore, have been under men's dominance. Gay men, in heterosexuals' eyes, lack masculinity. They have been the victim of discrimination as well. Unsatisfied with the status quo then, women and gay men started liberation movements for equality throughout the American history. However, none can be compared to what happened in the late 1960s. Women, whether single or married, entered into labor force in unprecedentedly large number. Gay men had more voice in society. Challenged by the increasingly powerful women both at home and in workplace and the unique masculinity embraced by American gay men, the traditional masculinity has been undergoing transformation. What used to be discouraged in men has been acceptable, such as being expressive, concerned about appearance, doing housework and the like. The traditional image has appeared stiff and been not as appealing as it was. There is no exaggeration to say that women and gay men have become the shaper of American men. The women's movements and gay rights movements served as the catalyst. Now in the 21th century, where are American men going? What will they be like in the future? Chances are that men's fate is out of their hand, while it is up to the women and other groups of men to decide. History helps tell the future.