Young men’s perceptions of masculinity and gender role conflict and it’s implications for their heterosexual dating relationships

Abstract

Young heterosexual men face a variety of challenges that are unique to their generation. Contemporary socio-economic realities continue to challenge the traditionally privileged role of men in society, education and family. Such evolution brought about an erosion of masculine identities, often leaving young males confused as to what it means to be a man. In this context, this study investigated young men´s perception of masculinity and its interaction with their heterosexual dating relationships within the larger framework of male Gender Role Conflict (O´Neil, 1980). Consequently, four young, university-educated males in heterosexual dating relationships were recruited and interviewed. An interpretative phenomenological analysis guided this process. In the initial phase, data from the interviews were organized into emergent themes. Subsequently, a second phase transpired super ordinate themes across cases. Lastly, results were superimposed with the theoretical conceptions of male gender role conflict. Findings suggest that the participants perceived masculinity in a traditional fashion, whereby men need to maintain a domineering position in both the social and the relationship realm. Especially in relation to their partners, the participants verbalized the need to be in the lead, to be the provider, and most importantly, to be in control. Conflict primarily occurred when the participants felt that they performed one of those roles inadequately. Overall, findings display a high degree of consistency with gender role conflict theory and traditional masculinity ideology, whereby the participants described a distinct fear of the rising power of females. This study furthermore corroborates the need for positive conceptions of masculinity guiding healthy identity formation processes in young men. Further research and counseling implications are discussed.