Part of the Package

Abstract

Where does masculinity come from? How is masculinity expressed? How is it perceived? What does it mean to be masculine or to have masculinity? The definition of masculinity remains elusive. While typically (though not always), maleness is conferred with the penis—anaccidentof birth—masculinityis often held to be “difficult to achieve.” Rites of passage, behavioral conventions, social roles, and political institutions have all been examined as sources for the production of masculinity. Female-to-male (FTM) transgendered and transsexual individuals, sometimes also called transmen, do not follow the traditional prescriptive paths to maleness, yet they often possess an undeniable masculinity. Through personal observation, literature review, and survey research, this article explores some of the concepts and embodiments of masculinity that are manifest among transmen. Some additional sources are Halberstam (Female Masculinity), Devor (Gender Blending), and Cromwell (Transmen and FTMs). These works are contrasted with that of various masculinity scholars.