A1 Journal article (refereed)
Doing Respectable Heteromasculinities in Boys and Young Men’s Interview Talk on Sexual Encounters (2023)
Aho, T., & Peltola, M. (2023). Doing Respectable Heteromasculinities in Boys and Young Men’s Interview Talk on Sexual Encounters. Men and Masculinities, 26(2), 210-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184x221145959
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Aho, Timo; Peltola, Marja
Journal or series: Men and Masculinities
ISSN: 1097-184X
eISSN: 1552-6828
Publication year: 2023
Publication date: 12/12/2022
Volume: 26
Issue number: 2
Pages range: 210-228
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184x221145959
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84363
Abstract
Recent studies on boys and young men’s heterosexual practices point in contradictory directions. On the one hand, boys and young men seem to be placing less value on “hard”, overtly aggressive masculinity and compulsive heterosexuality, in keeping with their adoption of more egalitarian attitudes in their sexual relationships. On the other hand, the hegemonic masculine notions that associate “real” men with sexual prowess persist as well. In this article, we argue that this contradiction indicates careful (re)calibration in doing respectable heteromasculinities. We draw on a small-scale qualitative study located in Helsinki, Finland, in illuminating how cis-gendered boys and young men with less privileged backgrounds construct their heteromasculinities as respectable, which requires context-specific balancing between distancing themselves from and embracing hegemonic notions of manhood. Through this balancing, the boys and young men reconfigure not necessary the substance but the style of respectable heteromasculinity; therefore contributing to sustaining masculine hegemony by attuning it according to the claims of the “#MeToo era”.
Keywords: heterosexuality; youth; boys; young people; young adults; masculinity; sexual identity; gender roles; manhood; men; man's status; attitudes; conceptions
Free keywords: heterosexuality; boys; young men; sexual encounters; youth; respectable masculinities
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
JUFO rating: 3
