Mia Newell

Date of Award

2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Fairchild, Emily

Keywords

Masculinity, Harassment, Public Space

Area of Concentration

Sociology, Gender Studies

Abstract

The objective of this study was to understand the relationship between masculinity and public harassment. By examining men's understandings of harassment, and motivations for these types of interactions, a broader exploration of gender performativity and the role of masculinity in public spaces was made possible. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with men in public spaces. Participants' descriptions of harassment highlighted beliefs that harassment is about achieving, expressing, and maintaining power. These men identified proving masculinity as a motivation for harassing women in public. They also believed that harassment was related to a desire to feel powerful and express heterosexual desire. Although most participants did not link these concepts to masculinity, theoretical understandings of masculinity highlight that power, dominance, and aggressive sexuality are all important components of masculine identity. Despite these implications in regards to masculinity and power, however, participants generally did not see harassment as being a legitimate threat towards women. Participants tended to believe that harassers believe that harassers are not violent, but instead are socially inept, even though most of these participants had previously indicated that men engage in harassment to feel powerful. This contradiction highlights a societal tendency to shield men from the consequences of masculine indiscretions.

Rights

The author has granted New College of Florida the nonexclusive right to archive, make accessible, and distribute for educational purposes this work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The copyright of this work remains with the author.

Download

Share

COinS