The Journal of Men’s Studies

This study examines gender role conflict in adolescent and emerging adult males and how it affects their resilience, or their ability to “bounce back” from adverse circumstances. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of the different patterns of gender role conflict on male adolescent/emerging adult resilience. Results suggest a complex relationship between male gender role conflict and resilience in this sample. Multiple regression modeling showed that as conflict surrounding the Success, Power and Competition (SPC) pattern increased, these male youth reported more resilience. Conversely, as conflict surrounding the Restrictive Emotionality (RE) pattern increased, male youth reported less resilience. Further study is needed to explore these relationships and their effects in adolescent and emerging adult males more closely. More specifically, research should focus on the gender socialization process, the development of gender role conflict, and its effects on male youth throughout the gender development process.

This paper examines Connell's social theory of gender in two secondary schools. Using statistical models for social networks, relations of power, violence, liking and disliking are investigated with regard to students' male dominance attitudes. While one school demonstrates support for local-level hypotheses articulated for Connell's theory, and thus for the conception of hegemonic masculinity as sitting atop a hierarchy of masculinities, another school does not. However, support for the more fundamental notion that gender is relational is found within both contexts. This research represents the first assessment of Connell's theory in local contexts using a quantitative relational methodology. That hypothesised effects are found, even after controlling for many other explanatory factors, demonstrates impressive empirical support for Connell's theory.

The certainties that characterized modern intimate life, and supported a hegemonic male sexuality defined by action and virility, are less present in contemporary men's intimate lives. In-depth interviews with ten heterosexual and gay men were conducted to explore how they organize their sexual and relational lives in contemporary Australia. Participants were committed to a “late” modern notion of intimacy characterized by reciprocity, and placed emphasis on committed relationships where opportunities to disclose vulnerability and relinquish the burden of responsibility for sexual activity were present. However, casual sex appeared to be ordered by more conventional discourses related to male sexuality. These men reveal the importance of particular definitions of sexual intimacy to a meaningful sense of self in late modernity.

While several studies have examined the relationship between hegemonic masculinity and criminality, prior research has not explored correctional interventions that respond to the pernicious effects of hypermasculinity in prison. This article reports the findings of an exploratory, qualitative study of two related men's programs at prisons in Massachusetts and California. The study included participant observation and interviews with program volunteers. The article describes how the programs seek to deconstruct hypermasculinity in the prison setting and help inmates redefine masculinity to produce prosocial outcomes. The programs are offshoots of a large, voluntary organization called the ManKind Project. Drawing on the philosophy of the “mythopoetic men's movement” as well as popular personal growth and therapeutic techniques, the program seeks to offer inmates the opportunity to explore their conceptions of masculinity and redefine them in ways that will serve them both in prison and upon reintegration into society.

This study concerned the psychological and social characteristics of 117 men dissatisfied with their same-sex attraction who had pursued sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE). We specifically examined whether sexual identity, male identity, religiosity, marital status, and gender role conflict associated with affection between men were related to self-reports of change in sexual and psychological functioning after having participated in SOCE. Additionally, we explored what motivated the participants to seek SOCE, and what therapeutic interventions and techniques they found to be most and least helpful. Results showed that being married, feeling disconnected with other men prior to seeking help, and reduced conflict in expressing nonsexual affection toward other men related to goals consistent with SOCE. Intrinsic religiosity and a heterosexual identity were related to reports of not changing one's sexual feelings and behavior. Participants perceived the most helpful sexual orientation change interventions to be a men's weekend/retreat, a psychologist, and a mentoring relationship, and the two most helpful techniques to be understanding better the causes one's homosexuality and one's emotional needs and issues and developing nonsexual relationships with same-sex peers, mentors, family members, and friends.