Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

This paper reports on the construction of masculinities in the narratives of 11 motorcyclists in Valledupar – Colombia. The aim was to establish the ways masculinities are expressed and recreated by motorcycle riders and the importance of motorcycles in these expressions. To do this, semistructured interviews were conducted to search for the evolution of their personal stories as men and on their relationship with motorcycles. We found that their masculinities are currently “in transit”: they vary from hegemonic manifestations to peripheral masculine ways of expression. Evidence of these transits can be grouped around four emerging categories: risk behavior, amusement settings, sexual expression and roles in public and private settings. Results show that, in some of these categories, the hegemonic patriarchal masculine logic prevails, especially through risky behaviors and motorcycle riding. However, other disruptive ways of expressing masculinities were found, motivated by the social transformations in equality policies, changes in interpersonal relationships and the participants’ own experiences. Supporting the transition process of masculinities is a large responsibility in social interventions seeking for a more equitable and fair society.

Most people believe in a statement that ‘All men are same’, even most men have taken this thing for granted that at the end they are going to be entitled to the same statement. So most of them hardly try to question the basis of the same. A few men engaged in humanities or social sciences are aware of things otherwise most of the men merely step in this tangled zone of masculinity-femininity or the bigger picture as gender. It has been taken for granted that gender studies mean women studies, homosexuality is not even landed yet, there are no such concepts like masculinity/femininity/gender-inequality etc. Without questioning or inquiring the system, blindly believing later following whatever one has been asking to perform is the current state of role-performance of the society. Forget about gender equality. Still, men are not aware of how their deeds disadvantage their female counterparts. The paper investigates the ways in which sex-roles were assigned/imposed, implied and performed and these sex-roles/stereotypes lead to identity assertion, conflict, violence etc. that results into disadvantaging women from their fundamental rights.

The current neoliberal society is built upon a patriarchal system in which new types of masculinities have a difficult time thriving. In this paper, I draw upon my own experiences as a Spanish neophyte father and how it shifts away from models of hegemonic masculinity. In doing so, I am forming a new model of masculinity to explore neoliberal discourses and how these determine my emotions, feelings and personal identity. Methodologically, I make use of a critical lens and an autoethnographic approach, interlinking personal and social aspects. In the results, I reflect upon a normal day in my life as a father and my relationship with my son, and the way in which it is affected by the hegemonic masculinity. The text is presented as an opportunity to rethink the importance of changing patriarchal prejudices and to deepen the knowledge of the role that masculinity plays in the paternal experience.

The participation of men in the feminist movement and the solidarity struggle with victims has been repeatedly questioned by both sexes, as well as their contributions and their solidarity with women. Despite this questioning, throughout history there was men who have positioned themselves against sexism and gender violence, in favor of affective or emotional/sexual or sexual relations, totally free of violence. This article is developed through an auto narrative of a case of overcoming sexual harassment thanks to the interaction and masculine intervention in support and solidarity to the victims of gender-based violence. The narrative is evidenced with the scientific contributions of the main feminist researchers on the new masculinities’ topic. The specific case that succeed in the context of university constitutes a reference of action for men who are positioned with women in the fight against gender violence.

Relying to Norbert Elias' process sociology and the Bourdieusian theory of practice, this article intends to outline the beginnings of the long-term transformation of Western masculine habituses. First, it concentrates on hegemonic knightly masculine dispositions, pointing out how these patterns are structured by the uncivilized libido dominandi, i.e. by the more or less free indulgence in physical violence. Next, it scrutinises the counter-hegemonic dispositions of clerics, based on internalised violence control. Finally, it argues that there are several transitory figurations between the two ideal types, i.e. the borders between the knightly and clerical masculinities are blurred. Consequently, as a result of changing structural constraints, by the end of the Middle Ages hybrid masculine habituses are being formed.