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masculinity
Sign in to saveAlso known as manliness, manhood, boyishness, maleness
thumb|In Roman mythology, Mars (mythology)|Mars was the god of war, an activity associated with masculinity. His female counterpart was [[Minerva.]]
Masculinity refers to the qualities, characteristics, and roles that are culturally associated with being male, such as those linked to Mars, the Roman god of war. It matters because these associations shape how societies understand gender and influence expectations for how men behave and are treated.
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Research
19,832 papers- The role of masculinity in men's help-seeking for depression: A systematic review.Clinical psychology review · 2016Seidler ZE, Dawes AJ, Rice SM et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.09.002
- Masculinity, Meat, and Veg*nism: A Scoping Review.American journal of men's health · 2024Velzeboer R, Li E, Gao N et al.DOI: 10.1177/15579883241247173
- When Is Masculinity "Fragile"? An Expectancy-Discrepancy-Threat Model of Masculine Identity.ReviewPersonality and social psychology review : an official journal of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc · 2023Stanaland A, Gaither S, Gassman-Pines ADOI: 10.1177/10888683221141176
- Performative Masculinity: A META-Ethnography of Experiences of Men in Academic and Clinical Nursing.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Liu HY, Han HM, Chao CY et al.DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214813
- Masculinity and Cancer Survivorship: A Systematic Review.Psycho-oncology · 2026Wang Z, Shahrokni R, Hoyt MADOI: 10.1002/pon.70364
- Masculinity and HIV: Dimensions of Masculine Norms that Contribute to Men's HIV-Related Sexual Behaviors.ReviewAIDS and behavior · 2016Fleming PJ, DiClemente RJ, Barrington CDOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1264-y
- A Scoping Review of Masculinity Norms and Their Interplay With Loneliness and Social Connectedness Among Men in Western Societies.American journal of men's health · 2024Nordin T, Degerstedt F, Granholm Valmari EDOI: 10.1177/15579883241304585
- Masculinity and immune system efficacy in men.PloS one · 2020Nowak-Kornicka J, Borkowska B, Pawłowski BDOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243777
via PubMed
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Article
34 sectionsContents
- Overview
- History
- <span class="anchor" id="Ancient"></span> Antiquity
- Medieval and Victorian eras
- <span class="anchor" id="Modern times"></span> 20th century to present
- Development
- Nature versus nurture
- Social construction of masculinity
- Gay and lesbian people
- Hegemonic masculinity
- Precarious manhood
- In intersex people
- In transgender people
- In women
- Health
- Criticism
- Mental health and masculinity
- Masculinity and eating disorders
- <span class="anchor" id="Masculine gender role stress"></span> Gender-role stress
- <span class="anchor" id="In crisis"></span><span class="anchor" id="Notion of "masculinity in crisis""></span> Masculinity in crisis
- East Asian cultures
- East African cultures
- In the Global South
- Westernized influence in the media
- Visual portrayals in fashion
- Effects on youth
- Fatherhood
- Efforts toward gender equality
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- Contemporary
- Historical
- External links
thumb|In Roman mythology, Mars (mythology)|Mars was the god of war, an activity associated with masculinity. His female counterpart was [[Minerva.]]
Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as socially constructed, and there is also evidence that some behaviors considered masculine are influenced by both cultural factors and biological factors. To what extent masculinity is biologically or socially influenced is subject to debate. It is distinct from the definition of the biological male sex, as anyone can exhibit masculine traits. Standards of masculinity vary across different cultures and historical periods. In Western cultures, its meaning is traditionally drawn from being contrasted with femininity.