Masculinity, (Mis)recognition and Social Exclusion of young Unemployed Men
Journal Title: KultŁ«ra ir visuomenė. SocialiniŁ³ tyrimŁ³ Ł¾urnalas - Year 2014, Vol 5, Issue 3
Abstract
The article focuses on the relationship between young unemployed men’s social exclusion, recognition and gender normativity. It argues that the desire for recognition is crucial in self-construction of male subjects. In order to become “real” men, they must be recognized as effective and viable subjects defined by the norm of employment and work. According to their attitudes towards masculinity, work and family, two groups of respondents were distinguished. The first biggest group called “men of toxic normativity” was passionately attached to the norm of hegemonic masculinity that enabled them to sustain the illusion of both respectability and recognition. However, this attachment negatively affected their lives and deepened their sense of social exclusion and isolation despite the fact that the majority were university-educated and had well-developed networks of social support. The second group of the respondents called “impasse men” largely comprised of men with high school education and the experience of illegal temporary jobs did not regard work and breadwinner role as an essence of their male identity. They thought of work as merely a means of satisfying their consumer needs. Furthermore, these men did not construct any specific strategies of future employment. Paradoxically, their negligent attitude towards work and recognition enabled them to live a carefree life that resisted the overpowering norm of hegemonic masculinity and instead relied on dreaming about the uncertain future as a way of everyday survival. The research results suggest that by analyzing a complex relation between masculinity, recognition, normativity and social exclusion, it is necessary to rethink what kind of male subjects are recognized as valuable in specific social fields and how their (mis)recognition can deconstruct the established gender norms that affect men’s experiences of social exclusion and isolation.
Authors and Affiliations
Artūras Tereškinas
The Influence of Reconciliation of Work and Family on the Lithuanian Population’s Childbearing Intentions
Using a wide array of theoretical and empirical studies and a national public opinion survey of Lithuanians (N=1031) of the reproductive age (18–45 y. o.) conducted in 2010–2011, within the framework of the project...
Alkoholio vartojimo priežastys ir būdai Lietuvoje: žalos ir neformalaus drausminimo aspektai
Pasaulinės sveikatos organizacijos duomenimis (2014), Lietuvoje suvartojamo alkoholio kiekis vienam gyventojui yra vienas didžiausių pasaulyje. Išgertas alkoholio kiekis siejamas su žala asmeniui, aplinkiniams ir visuome...
Paradoksalios komunikacijos mokslo manipuliacijos
Knygos recenzija: Martišius, Mantas. 2011. [Ne]akivaizdus karas: nagrinėjant informacinį karą. Vilnius: Versus Aureus.
Rizikos konstravimas valdysenos teorijos požiūriu
Straipsnyje aptariama, kaip valdysenos teorija gali būti panaudota tiriant rizikos konstravimą. Vėlyvosios modernybės pasaulyje rizika suprantama kaip sudėtingas socialinis klausimas, į kurį įvairūs suinteresuoti dalyvia...
Varieties of Capitalism: The Role of Discourse in Explaining Coordination
This article analyzes coordination that in the Varieties of capitalism (Voc) approach is described as ways in which firms and other actors engage in political-economic relations. it answers the question about the main co...