ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to critically review theoretical and empirical evidence that seeks to explain how hegemonic masculinity contributes to, and is a result of, men’s perpetration of aggression. It focuses on hegemonic masculinity, which refers to: the configuration of gender practice which embodies the accepted answer to the problem of the legitimacy of patriarchy, which guarantees the dominant position of men and the subordination of women. Scholars have utilised multiple approaches to examine hegemonic masculinity; however, three approaches have been the most widely used: gender orientation, gender normative and masculine gender stress. The gender orientation approach is one of the earliest conceptualisations of masculinity and posits that masculinity is comprised of socially desirable, ingrained personality traits or attributes that differentiate males and females. The gender normative perspective purports that masculinity is “a culturally based ideology scripting gender relations, attitudes, and beliefs”. Aggression may also be a tactic used to demonstrate hegemonic masculinity.
