Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist Websites
A growth in cultural ideologies concerned with men and masculinities in contemporary American society has recently emerged. Men’s rights activist (MRA) groups embody a movement emphasizing the crisis of masculinity. Despite men’s privileged societal status, MRAs seek to establish resources for men t...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-05-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/5/2/18 |
| _version_ | 1811242060448006144 |
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| author | Rachel M. Schmitz Emily Kazyak |
| author_facet | Rachel M. Schmitz Emily Kazyak |
| author_sort | Rachel M. Schmitz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A growth in cultural ideologies concerned with men and masculinities in contemporary American society has recently emerged. Men’s rights activist (MRA) groups embody a movement emphasizing the crisis of masculinity. Despite men’s privileged societal status, MRAs seek to establish resources for men to utilize in elevating their perceived subordinated position in society in relation to women and social minorities. Little research has systematically investigated MRAs on the Internet, which is rapidly becoming a primary source of information and social connectedness for people. Through a content analysis of the 12 most prominent MRA websites, we explore the various strategies used by contemporary men’s groups designed to provide support for men in their pursuit of social legitimacy and power. Two primary categories of MRAs with distinctive ideological strategies emerged from this analysis: Cyber Lads in Search of Masculinity and Virtual Victims in Search of Equality. Though both groups promoted men’s entitlement to social power, Cyber Lads utilized themes of explicit aggression towards and devaluation of women, while Virtual Victims adopted political and social movement rhetoric to address men’s issues. The implications of these websites are discussed in terms of gender equality and their potential effects on individual men and women. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:46:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-11e05b82ad264a6ca91c58edc486308f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T13:46:19Z |
| publishDate | 2016-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Social Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-11e05b82ad264a6ca91c58edc486308f2022-12-22T03:30:40ZengMDPI AGSocial Sciences2076-07602016-05-01521810.3390/socsci5020018socsci5020018Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist WebsitesRachel M. Schmitz0Emily Kazyak1Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78539, USADepartment of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USAA growth in cultural ideologies concerned with men and masculinities in contemporary American society has recently emerged. Men’s rights activist (MRA) groups embody a movement emphasizing the crisis of masculinity. Despite men’s privileged societal status, MRAs seek to establish resources for men to utilize in elevating their perceived subordinated position in society in relation to women and social minorities. Little research has systematically investigated MRAs on the Internet, which is rapidly becoming a primary source of information and social connectedness for people. Through a content analysis of the 12 most prominent MRA websites, we explore the various strategies used by contemporary men’s groups designed to provide support for men in their pursuit of social legitimacy and power. Two primary categories of MRAs with distinctive ideological strategies emerged from this analysis: Cyber Lads in Search of Masculinity and Virtual Victims in Search of Equality. Though both groups promoted men’s entitlement to social power, Cyber Lads utilized themes of explicit aggression towards and devaluation of women, while Virtual Victims adopted political and social movement rhetoric to address men’s issues. The implications of these websites are discussed in terms of gender equality and their potential effects on individual men and women.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/5/2/18men’s rightsmasculinitymanhoodwebsitescontent analysis |
| spellingShingle | Rachel M. Schmitz Emily Kazyak Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist Websites Social Sciences men’s rights masculinity manhood websites content analysis |
| title | Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist Websites |
| title_full | Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist Websites |
| title_fullStr | Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist Websites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist Websites |
| title_short | Masculinities in Cyberspace: An Analysis of Portrayals of Manhood in Men’s Rights Activist Websites |
| title_sort | masculinities in cyberspace an analysis of portrayals of manhood in men s rights activist websites |
| topic | men’s rights masculinity manhood websites content analysis |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/5/2/18 |
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