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The purpose of this study is to investigate how femininity is portrayed in relation to power in the Swedish documentary series Drottningarna, which follows the life experience of 8 Swedish queens. This will be researched based on the theories of hegemonic masculinity and femininity. The study also aims to investigate what purposes might have contributed to how the different queens are portrayed in the series, and how truthful the representation of them is. The results shows that power in the series is often associated with breaking and opposing the power structures, but also with typically hegemonic masculine traits such as assertiveness, independence and aggressivity. the series also seems to primarily have a commercial purpose, even though it contains both cognitive, moral, and aesthetic intentions. This in turn affects the credibility of the series in a negative way, as the focus is on making good television instead of sticking to historical truths.

In Uganda, the constitution provide protection for women´s rights. However, progress is still slow and the situation on household levels are largely unknown. Many focus on the challenges for women when it comes to gender equality, but as there is now a general recognition of the importance to include men in this work, this study aims to focus on men's perceptions and thoughts regarding gender equality, women empowerment, gender roles and social change, to contribute valuable information on this matter. Previous studies have shown signs of male resistance towards gender equality. To best understand the underlying reasons for this resistance, the theory of Hegemonic Masculinities by Connell and Messerschmidt was chosen to analyse the findings. This theory suggests that hierarchies between men, and notions of male ideals, can have an impact on men´s behaviour. A field study was conducted in rural Uganda which used the methods of individual interviews and focus group discussions, targeting men in different ages and socio-economic backgrounds. The questions asked regarded the roles for men and women, how the roles are changing, their perception of gender equality and the impact of women empowerment on gender relations, all with a focus on house hold level. These answers were complemented by key respondents on both local and national level. The main results of this study shows that there seems to be a general change in the role for women, but the male ideal is still tied to being the provider and leader in the family. Gender equality was in somewhat contradictory viewed as something good that could lead to development, as long as the men could remain higher in status than women. Lastly, many men seemed worried about women empowerment leading to disrespect, arguments and divorce, even though some benefits also were recognized. These findings indicate that “universal ideas” of gender equality have a wide range of local interpretations that needs to be taken into consideration when promoting gender equality in a development context.

The focus of this essay is the interaction between the male characters in the play Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw and how those characters position themselves according to R.W. Connell’s theories on hegemonic masculinity. Connell’s theories can be productively applied to Shaw’s play, highlighting many similarities and exposing interesting patterns. The most striking example of this is the fact that Captain Bluntschli, the character that finally reaches the top of the hierarchical ladder of hegemonic masculinity, does that by repudiating conventional masculine ideals where patriotism, soldiering and violence are core ingredients. Bluntschli’s ascendance within the hierarchy is built upon consent from the other male characters in the play, which is in line with what Connell argues about complicity being one of the most important factors of hegemonic masculinity. The other male characters jointly give way to Bluntschli, thus accepting his general critique of what they used to consider self-evident masculine values and ideals that they have felt compelled to live up to. For Major Sergius Saranoff the new way to look upon masculinity implies great relief. He can finally give in to his true self and let down his guard against the people around him, and he also dares follow his heart and marry below his class.    My conclusion is that Shaw, apart from satirizing love, war and heroism, wanted Arms and the Man to convey a message that there are alternative ways for men to gain respect and be considered highly masculine than through violence, economic power and oppression. If Shaw had been presented with Connell’s theories on hegemonic masculinity he would probably have felt even more inspired in his mission to argue against destructive masculine ideals as expressed in patriotism and war.

The aim of this paper is to study how the image of masculinity and how perceptions of masculinity have changed over time, based on the participants' gender and age by answering a survey. The group that participated in the survey consists of members from the National Pensioners' Organization (PRO), and members from the Social Democrats. In total there are 70 questionnaires that form the basis of this paper. The participants have been divided according to age and sex by a quantitative method for responding to this essay’s purpose. The differences between men and women in the study was very small, the same applies when the age groups were studied. The fact that the differences were so small in terms of both age and gender is confirming Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity. In the study, it becomes obvious that men and women regardless of age share views on what is a good man and what characteristics a good man should have. A man should be responsible, reliable, humble, open and caring according to the participants. The results of this study suggest that men and women are very similar in their answers and highlight the importance of sharing responsibility. Men see themselves to a greater extent as breadwinners, which confirm the previous research that claims that supplying an income to the family is still one of men’s principal responsibilities in the family. The conclusion of this study is that men and women independent of age share the same picture of what are desirable characteristics of a man.

The present study set out to explore how male university students perceive their involvement in gender studies and how this intersects with their masculine identities. The research was a qualitative one and semi-structured individual interviews were used to collect data from ten Humanities postgraduate students attending a large, urban university comprising men who do gender studies and those who do not. Two key informants were also interviewed for the study. Qualitative thematic content analysis was employed to analyse the data collected; these reflected themes that bordered around the men and their identities, gender equality, engagement in gender studies, and changing attitudes towards observable gender transformation. In comparing the responses of both categories of men, an inference made was that, although the men mostly expressed positive attitudes towards engagement in gender studies, there does not seem to be a direct relationship between exposing men to gender studies courses or not, and changes in perception towards gender relations. This was evidenced by the fact that both groups of men predominantly upheld traditional hegemonic ideals of masculinity through displays of complicit, accommodating and defensive masculinities amidst a couple of progressive representations. The study affirms the thesis that masculinity is socially constructed based on the contradictory manner in which the men spoke about their identities. This reaffirms the essentiality of speaking about men in diverse ways and rejecting any notions of singularity. Key words: Gender studies, masculinity, hegemonic masculinity, masculinities, university men, changing attitudes

Ce travail de thèse traite de la construction des masculinités par des athlètes investis dans une carrière sportive de haut niveau. Notre enquête s’appuie sur des observations ethnographiques durant les entraînements et sur des entretiens (n=48) réalisés avec des athlètes (n=38) et entraineurs (n=10) dans un Pôle Espoir de handball (n=8), de rugby (n=13) et dans un Pôle France de boxe française (n=13), de patinage artistique dans la catégorie individuelle (n=11), ainsi que dans trois clubs au Québec (n=3). Un premier apport de cette thèse réside dans la mise en relation entre deux cadres théoriques utilisés respectivement en sociologie du sport de langue anglaise et française. Nous avons analysé nos données en utilisant les concepts — d’ordre de genre, de régime de genre et de masculinité hégémonique — développés par Raewyn Connell et ceux de — champ, d’habitus et de capital — développés par Pierre Bourdieu. Nous avons proposé de considérer que le champ sportif est régi par une forme de masculinité hégémonique. Cette dernière se définirait comme une configuration idéale d’appartenances, de dispositions et de capitaux, propice à assurer la re-Productivité des agents dans le jeu social. Nous avons vu que cette forme était malléable. Il existe une pluralité de masculinités hégémoniques en relation avec le régime de genre spécifique à chaque discipline et plus précisément avec l’ordre de genre local ancré géographiquement et institutionnellement. Un deuxième apport de cette thèse réside dans l’étude du processus d’hybridation des masculinités en relation avec la multiplication des exigences institutionnelles. En rupture avec une conception essentialiste de la masculinité hégémonique, nous relevons que cette dernière se caractérise par la pluralité de ces facettes et par sa plasticité. Les athlètes les plus conformes à la forme hégémonique dans leur discipline développent une capacité à entrer dans des registres dispositionnels variés, voire contrastés. Ils sont toujours plus aptes au combat, mais plus fins dans les usages de la violence et de leur corps, qu’ils apprennent à gérer comme un capital (esthétique, hygiénique). Par ailleurs, ils mettent à distance l’expression de sexisme et d’homophobie, ce qui ne permet pas pour autant de remettre en question l’inégale valeur des sexes, des genres et des sexualités dans le champ sportif. / This thesis examines the construction of masculinities by athletes invested in a high-Level sporting career. Our investigation is based on ethnographic observations during sports training and interviews (n = 48) conducted with athletes (n = 38) and coaches (n = 10) in a Pole Espoir of handball (n = 8) of rugby (n = 13) and in a Pole France of french boxing (n = 13), in two Poles France of ice skating in the individual category (n = 11), and in three clubs at Quebec (n = 3). The first contribution of this thesis lies in the linkage between the two theoretical frameworks used in Sport Sociology respectively in English and French language. We analyzed our data using the concepts - gender order, gender regime and hegemonic masculinity - developed by Raewyn Connell and those - field, habitus and capital - developed by Pierre Bourdieu. We proposed to consider that the sports field is governed by a form of hegemonic masculinity. This form would be defined as an ideal configuration of affiliations, dispositions and capital favourable to promote the re-Productivity of agents in the social game. We have seen that this form was malleable. There is a plurality of hegemonic masculinities in relation to specific gender regime of each discipline and more precisely with the local gender order which is geographically and institutionally anchored. The second contribution of this thesis lies in the study of the process of masculinities hybridization in relation to the increase of institutional requirements. Contrary to an essentialist conception of hegemonic masculinity, we note that this latter is characterized by the plurality of its facets and its plasticity. The athletes, who are the most conform to the hegemonic form in their discipline, develop a capacity to enter into a variety or mixed dispositional uses. They are always more "fit for fighting", but more subtle in the uses of violence and their bodies, that they learn to manage as a capital (aesthetic, hygienic). In addition, they put away the expression of sexism and homophobia, which still does not really allow reconsidering the unequal value of sexes, genders and sexualities in sports field.

This thesis is a report of a study of masculinity at Canberra Grammar School, a corporate boys' school. The data were collected during 1991 and 1992. The thesis questions the conventional wisdom that a school like Canberra Grammar produces a particular hegemonic masculinity. Indeed, it identifies the production of a hierarchy of exalted, multiple masculinities. There were limitations to what could be investigated in this study, as well as to how it could be investigated. However, the ideas and work of several people were blended in order to provide a way into the questions of masculinity in this school. This eclectic approach drew upon the literature of Popkewitz, Lather, and Parlett and Hamilton, who called for narrative descriptions and interpretation, as well as Beare, Caldwell and Millikan, whose framework of school culture, albeit modified, provided very rich information. This method resulted in an emphasis on what was observed and read within the school, rather than on what might have been heard, but, nevertheless, a great deal of relevant and useful data were generated. The data were then interpreted with the help of questions and insights formed by immersion in the literature on masculinity and schools, particularly that of corporate boys' schools. It was possible to identify multiple masculinities in the school, and arrange them into a hierarchy based on the degree to which each of them was exalted. These masculinities were fluid and the hierarchy was dynamic. During the time of the study greatest support was for "the man as scholar", "the sportsman" and "the man as leader", three notions of masculinity traditionally associated with these schools. There was also considerable support for the notion of "the sensitive man", a notion that has been promoted in schools like this for many years, but which draws upon traits and qualities less traditionally associated with these schools. One area of fluidity was an official move by the school's leaders towards the notion of "the person", rather than the man. Contestation was evident as changes occurred within this hierarchy, as well as within the notions themselves. These findings are significant for several reasons. Firstly, they challenge the conventional wisdom about corporate boys' schools. Secondly, for those working in this school and schools like it who are searching for ways to bring about different gender and social relations, the findings offer an encouraging, optimistic picture of what this school is trying to do. The findings also identify those within the school who might support or oppose counterhegemonic practice, as well as areas of the school's culture that should be targeted in the future. Thirdly, for those wanting to find out about notions of maculinity in these schools, they show that the method used here can be very productive, despite its limitations. The first chapter of this thesis explains the reasons for this study in more detail, and the second chapter describes and accounts for the nature of the study. The main body of the thesis is in Chapters Three, Four and Five, where findings about the school's setting, curriculum and rituals are described and interpreted. The thesis concludes with a chapter containing reflections on the reasons for this study, as well as possible ways forward for those wishing to investigate questions of masculinity in corporate boys' schools in the future.

This dissertation presents an argument for the ethical value of a reader's inability to fully comprehend works by Jorge Luis Borges, G.K. Chesterton, William Faulkner, and Brian O'Nolan (aka Flann O'Brien). Such texts demand creative engagement by the reader which could be described as a necessary betrayal of the text. Viewed in the context of the so-called "ethical turn" in literary theory, the revaluation of infidelity accomplished by such unfaithful reading can foster a greater openness toward the unknown, and ultimately unknowable, other. Similarly, by juxtaposing the work of Faulkner, a canonical modernist writer, with more nontraditional writers such as Chesterton and O'Nolan, I mean to betray the sort of limitations created by employing such categorical terms as "modernism" itself. In an introductory chapter, I use the work of ethical theorist Emmanuel Levinas, as well as the socio-political theory of Zygmunt Bauman and Ernesto Laclau, to develop a theoretical framework for the project, taking some examples from the writings of Borges. My chapter on Chesterton presents "The Man Who Was Thursday" as a site of multiple betrayals which can awaken the reader to the instability of any fixed notion of identity. I conclude the chapter with a specific show of infidelity in the 1924 Russian adaptation of Chesterton's novel for the Kamerny theater in Moscow, an intentional "misreading" that reveals aspects of the work glossed over by years of more ostensibly faithful interpretations. My third chapter features a sustained reflection on the ethics of reading Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying," a work which stubbornly "keeps its secret," to use Derrida's phrasing. Since any reading of this story must be, on a certain level, a betrayal, I discuss the possibilities opened up by resisting the tendency to fix the meaning of such an undecidable work. In my final chapter, I consider the work of O'Nolan as a testimony to the constitutive power of betrayal. In his deconstruction of authorial presence, his Judas-like betrayal of James Joyce, and his provocative 1943 "translation" onto the Dublin stage of the Capek brothers' "Insect Play," O'Nolan is always unfaithful to his object; however, the revaluation of infidelity posited by this dissertation suggests that his traitorous stance could paradoxically do more justice to the objects of his focus than would a more ostensibly faithful approach.