Feminist research as well as the growing field of ‘Men and Masculinities’ have identified how targeting women and excluding men from development initiatives could have unintended repercussions. As a common tool for development, microfinance is a fitting representation for this emphasis on women. At the same time, Microfinance Investment Funds (MFIFs) have emerged as established actors within the microfinance landscape, and their potential to shape microfinance approaches has been highlighted within literature. This thesis builds upon this previous research to delve into the discourses of MFIFs concerning men and masculinities within the context of microfinance initiatives. Using a theoretical framework that intersects models of empowerment and hegemonic masculinity, the thesis explores the extent to which MFIF discourses incorporate men and masculinities, as well as attempting to explain the presence or absence of these discourses. An analysis reveals that there is mixed alignment with models of empowerment and a lack of discussions concerning men and masculinities.

John Steinbeck’s novella Of Mice and Men explores themes of morality and masculinity through its many male characters. With the use of hegemonic masculinity theory, this essay analyzes how different elements of masculinity are characterized, constructed, and valued in relation to one another. Masculinity is defined by a utilitarian sense of purpose, systematic loss, and homosocial desire in Of Mice and Men. The men in this novella yearn for connection and meaning, in contrast to the inevitable nature of violence presented in the novella. Ending the life of an animal or a man that has lost its purpose is considered a compassionate and unavoidable act. In this way, hegemonic masculinity in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice in Men is defined by a duality of homosocial desire and utilitarian violence.

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The identity analysis of modern sociology claims that individuals, rather than presenting a “realistic”, or genuine picture of themselves, intends to highlight a desirable identity that is not rooted in its actual, current situation. Consequently, the individual opposes one identity and gives foreground to another which is in line with a specific image that intends to meet the norm of what it means to be a man, or a woman. Previous research shows how men tend to resign a victim role, because it goes against masculine ideals and thus refrains from seeking protection in the belief of not losing their masculinity. Thus, narratives are formed in which men tend to steer the impressions away from forced victimhood. What this study aims at, is to investigate hegemonic masculinity, and how it is expressed in connection with young men being exposed to crime and tactics of discrimination in pub-contexts. Through qualitative interviews with 5 informants, we have seen how young men relate to the role of victims of crime in a dissonance to their masculinity. And that it is possible to distinguish patterns of dominance and subordination between the “perpetrator” and the “victim”. What has been demonstrated is how hegemonic masculinity is reproduced in roles that do not evoke connotations of masculinity. The study also addresses the issue of men’s views on their own victimisation in shaping and reducing serious situations of violence. Which is derived in line with how hegemonic values are expressed. / Den moderna sociologins identitetsanalys hävdar att individer snarare än att presentera en realistisk, eller genuin bild av sig själv, ämnar framhäva en önskvärd identitet som inte är förankrad i dennes egentliga, aktuella situation. Följaktligen motsätter individen sig en identitet, och ger förgrund åt en annan som går i linje med en specifik bild som ämnar tillgodose normen av vad det innebär av att vara man, eller kvinna. Tidigare forskning påvisar hur män tenderar att avsäga sig en offerroll, då det går emot maskulina ideal och således avstå från att söka skydd i tro om att inte mista sin maskulinitet. Härvid bildas narrativ, i vilket män tenderar att styra intrycken bort från ett påtvingat offerskap. Vad denna studie syftar till är att undersöka hegemonisk maskulinitet, och hur det kommer till uttryck i samband med att unga män blivit utsatta för brott och taktiker av diskriminering i krogsammanhang. Genom kvalitativa intervjuer med 5 informanter har vi sett hur unga män förhåller sig till rollen som brottsoffer i en dissonans till sin maskulinitet, samt att det går att urskilja mönster av dominans och underordning förövaren och offret emellan. Det som således påvisats är hur hegemonisk maskulinitet reproduceras i roller som inte väcker konnotationer av maskulinitet. Studien tar också upp problematiken i mäns syn på sitt eget offerskap i gestaltandet och förminskandet av allvarliga våldssituationer. Vilket härleds i linje med hur hegemoniska värdegrunder tas i uttryck.

Gender has recently begun to receive attention as an important factor in the provision of security. Unfortunately, the consideration of gender is often mistakenly understood to mean a consideration of women and women’s issues, when in reality it pertains to the needs and interests of both men and women. Through an idea analysis, this thesis aims to study the ideas about gender expressed in contemporary security sector reform and local ownership debate. The analysis shows that gender specific violence towards civilian men and boys is repeatedly overlooked in security sector reform policy and debate. It further shows that marginalized men are not being valued as local owners of reform processes due to the ideas about men and women that permeate the debate. The theory of ‘hegemonic masculinity’ reveals how the ideas expressed serve to increase men’s vulnerabilities and further exclude them from the process of reform. The thesis concludes that because civilian men are overlooked in the debate, no substantial ownership can be attained. Because security sector reform is highly reliant on local ownership for legitimacy and sustainability, the thesis further suggests that the entire security sector reform project is compromised by the exclusion of men and boys.

Studiens syfte är att utforska gymnasieelevers syn på femininitet och hur deras attityder varierar beroende på klassbakgrund och kön. Studien är en kvantitativ enkätstudie, där enkäter har distribuerats både online och i pappersformat till elever på två skolor inom Norrbottens län, med totalt 331 deltagare. Den teoretiska ramen lägger grunden till konstruktionen av två idealtyper inom femininitet – medskyldig femininitet och pariafemininitet. Den medskyldiga femininiteten är en stabil femininitet, där femininitet är en rättighet snarare än en skyldighet, medan pariafemininiteten ger uttryck för motsatsen. Resultaten indikerar att klassbakgrund har en viss koppling till respektive idealtyp och vad som anses vara feminint. Däremot är definitionen av femininitet inte samma för alla, utan uttrycks vara flytande och komplex. Noterbart verkar kön påverka attityden mot vad som är femininitet, där killar, oavsett klass, uttrycker en större önskan att tjejer ska uppfylla stereotypa feminina attribut, medan de anser att killar bör upprätthålla stereotypa maskulina attribut. Resultatet indikerar att definitionen för femininitet samt uttryck som förknippas med denna kan vara influerad av andra faktorer, såsom utbildningsval. Således understryker denna studie nödvändigheten för ytterligare studier av den komplexa dynamiken kring uppfattningar om femininitet och dess betydelse, särskilt i kontext till skolan. / The aim of this study is to delve into high school students' perceptions of femininity, investigating how these perceptions are shaped by both class background and gender. Using a quantitative method, questionnaires were distributed both online and in paper format to students at two schools within Norrbotten County, with a total of 331 participants. This study is anchored within a theoretical framework that delineates two contrasting paradigms of femininity: hegemonic femininity and pariah femininity. Hegemonic femininity embodies a stable construct where femininity is viewed as a right rather than an obligation, while pariah femininity represents its antithesis. The results indicate that class background exhibits a correlation with attitudes toward femininity, while the perception of femininity itself emerges as fluid and transcending traditional gender boundaries. Notably, gender emerges as determinant in shaping attitudes toward femininity. Regardless of social class, male participants tend to expect female peers to conform to stereotypical feminine traits while also adhering to societal norms dictating stereotypical masculine behavior. Furthermore, the results show that different things influence how femininity is seen, including educational choices. Thus, this study highlights the necessity for further investigation of the complex dynamics surrounding perceptions of femininity and its meaning, particularly in the context of educational settings. / <p>2024-05-30</p>

This essay aims to investigate constructions of masculinity in Frank Chin’s Donald Duk and Charles Yu’s Interior Chinatown, comparing them to each other, and scrutinizing them through Raewyn Connell’s framework of hegemonic masculinity. Moreover, it aims to analyze the utilization of popular culture in identity formation within the two novels. Furthermore, it also aims to discuss how these novels can be utilized to discuss masculinity in the EFL classroom. To achieve these aims, the essay utilizes close reading of excerpts from the two novels. The analysis concludes that the protagonist of Donald Duk constructs masculinity with traits from hegemonic masculinity to combat the emasculation he experiences, while the protagonist from Interior Chinatown starts with the same ambition, he then rejects hegemonic masculinity in favor of a more empathetic masculinity. Additionally, both novels utilize representations of masculinity from popular culture as role models for the protagonists’ own identities. Lastly, it concludes that Donald Duk and Interior Chinatown can be of use in the EFL classroom to discuss toxic masculinity and alternative masculinities by highlighting the protagonists of the novels and tying the discussion to its authors, and the students’ own identities and experiences.

Gaming is still commonly assumed to be a male activity, making gender differences prevalent in many areas of gaming. This research focuses on investigating how gender assumptions affect teammates’ responses in regard to strategic calls in the competitive online multiplayer game League of Legends. In order to explore this topic, A/B testing is utilized through playing highly competitive “ranked” games, alternating the gender of the in-game character played, and making strategic calls and requests to the other players on the team. Our results indicate that the strategic calls made with the female presenting character had a slightly higher follow-rate as compared to the male character. The female character also received a friend request, which was not the case for the male character. These findings are then discussed in relation to the hegemonic masculinity theory and the gender performativity theory, as well as a comparison with previous research.