Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of Lovćenac
The village of Lovćenac is located in the region of Bačka, practically halfway between the cities of Novi Sad and Subotica, and has a population of about 4,000. After World War II it was settled by Montenegrins from the region known as "Old Montenegro". Today, the residents of Lovćenac are...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Belgrade
2010-02-01
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| Series: | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
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| Online Access: | http://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/821 |
| _version_ | 1828865639813480448 |
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| author | Saša Nedeljković |
| author_facet | Saša Nedeljković |
| author_sort | Saša Nedeljković |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The village of Lovćenac is located in the region of Bačka, practically halfway between the cities of Novi Sad and Subotica, and has a population of about 4,000. After World War II it was settled by Montenegrins from the region known as "Old Montenegro". Today, the residents of Lovćenac are faced with great challenges of ethnic and national identification. The village is a stronghold of Montenegrin nationalist feeling in Serbia, and the only place where Montenegrin "traditional" culture has been preserved to this day. Having studied Montenegrins in Serbian towns and cities, my intention was to study the identity formula of a rural Montenegrin community in Serbia, and it was with this aim that in 2009 I conducted a study of Lovćenac villagers' identity, using observation and the interview as methodological tools. I paid particular attention to the study of alternative parameters of ethnic identity, specifically the phenomenon of masculinity, which in this case could provide an important analytical instrument. In this particular case, masculinity is manifested through specific and adapted forms of aggresivity, heterosexuality, authoritarianism, laziness etc. These syndroms and concepts are important for self-determination, but also for description, making ethnic boundaries sharper and more distinct. This concept has proved to be especially useful in the case of identification with smaller ethnic (clan) and regional groups, i.e. in intragroup classification. Masculinity has turned out to be an important regulator of interethnic and intraethnic relations, that is, a relational category that is invoked and used when descent, regional affiliation, religion and language are insufficiently clear criteria for ethnic systematization and operationalization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:33:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab24571b08534c0584682513c42c33e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0353-1589 2334-8801 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T04:33:05Z |
| publishDate | 2010-02-01 |
| publisher | University of Belgrade |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Etnoantropološki Problemi |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab24571b08534c0584682513c42c33e42022-12-21T23:59:30ZengUniversity of BelgradeEtnoantropološki Problemi0353-15892334-88012010-02-015110.21301/eap.v5i1.3Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of LovćenacSaša Nedeljković0Department of Ethnology and Anthropology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, SerbiaThe village of Lovćenac is located in the region of Bačka, practically halfway between the cities of Novi Sad and Subotica, and has a population of about 4,000. After World War II it was settled by Montenegrins from the region known as "Old Montenegro". Today, the residents of Lovćenac are faced with great challenges of ethnic and national identification. The village is a stronghold of Montenegrin nationalist feeling in Serbia, and the only place where Montenegrin "traditional" culture has been preserved to this day. Having studied Montenegrins in Serbian towns and cities, my intention was to study the identity formula of a rural Montenegrin community in Serbia, and it was with this aim that in 2009 I conducted a study of Lovćenac villagers' identity, using observation and the interview as methodological tools. I paid particular attention to the study of alternative parameters of ethnic identity, specifically the phenomenon of masculinity, which in this case could provide an important analytical instrument. In this particular case, masculinity is manifested through specific and adapted forms of aggresivity, heterosexuality, authoritarianism, laziness etc. These syndroms and concepts are important for self-determination, but also for description, making ethnic boundaries sharper and more distinct. This concept has proved to be especially useful in the case of identification with smaller ethnic (clan) and regional groups, i.e. in intragroup classification. Masculinity has turned out to be an important regulator of interethnic and intraethnic relations, that is, a relational category that is invoked and used when descent, regional affiliation, religion and language are insufficiently clear criteria for ethnic systematization and operationalization.http://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/821masculinityalternative parameters of ethnic identityrural communityMontenegrinsSerbiacolonisation |
| spellingShingle | Saša Nedeljković Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of Lovćenac Etnoantropološki Problemi masculinity alternative parameters of ethnic identity rural community Montenegrins Serbia colonisation |
| title | Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of Lovćenac |
| title_full | Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of Lovćenac |
| title_fullStr | Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of Lovćenac |
| title_full_unstemmed | Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of Lovćenac |
| title_short | Masculinity as an Alternative Parameter of Ethnic Identity: Montenegrins in the Village of Lovćenac |
| title_sort | masculinity as an alternative parameter of ethnic identity montenegrins in the village of lovcenac |
| topic | masculinity alternative parameters of ethnic identity rural community Montenegrins Serbia colonisation |
| url | http://www.eap-iea.org/index.php/eap/article/view/821 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sasanedeljkovic masculinityasanalternativeparameterofethnicidentitymontenegrinsinthevillageoflovcenac |