Alternative masculinities and femininities

What is traditional masculinity ?

It is a socially accepted model of behavior that men must have and that is associated with certain gender roles, within a social hierarchy. Simply put, masculinity is how men in a society are expected to behave.

A series of totally stereotyped characteristics are expected and understood from men. The most obvious, strength. A man must be strong physically, sexually, psychologically and emotionally.

Furthermore, in most societies, men receive messages from a young age: “be a man”, “behave like a man”, “you have to act like men”… But what does this mean? Many do not receive clear instructions on how to be men but, as the French philosopher Élisabeth defends Badinter , they do receive very clear instructions on what they should not do. Badinter says that to “enforce his masculine status, a man must convince himself and others of three things: that he is not a woman, that he is not a baby and that he is not homosexual” ( Badinter , 1993).

Other behaviors that traditional masculinity does not expect from men are crying, the expression of emotions such as sadness, conformity, cowardice… And yet, it promotes emotions such as anger, anger, competition and assumption. of risks.

Egalitarian masculinities seek to question the ways of feeling, thinking and acting that have been traditionally associated with and imposed on men through social constructions and stereotypes.

Egalitarian masculinities defend the right of men to express their masculinity as they see fit, without the need to adhere to roles and stereotypes that are extremely oppressive. What egalitarian masculinities aim to do is for men to be able to live their masculinity in a healthier way.

They have the following advantages:

Better emotional intelligence
Better emotion management
Better mental health
Less pressure by not having to live in continuous competitiveness
Healthier and more open sexuality
Masculinity more in line with reality
Greater personal autonomy
Greater self-esteem
Greater co-responsibility
More conscious and healthy parenting

Furthermore, egalitarian masculinities make it possible to make visible a greater diversity of men, since they do not have to comply with traditional stereotypes, so all men will be considered as such despite their differences:

Men with diverse bodies
Men with disabilities
Men who perform care tasks (co-responsibility and mental load)
Men with jobs traditionally not for men
trans men
Pregnant men
Vulnerable men

Egalitarian masculinities are feminist masculinities. Feminism pursues equality between men and women. The ultimate goal of feminism and egalitarian masculinities is common.

We can also talk about traditional femininities , since femininity has also been conditioned and subject to compliance with gender stereotypes assigned to women. But these roles are beginning to be obsolete and women who do unpaid work at home are as much women as those who practice a profession; those who are mothers, such as those who decide not to have children; those who shave, as well as those who do not; those who are cis , like those who are trans ; those who wear a skirt, like those who wear pants; the one who studies hairdressing, like the one who studies mechanics; the one who plays soccer, like the one who does ballet; the one who is attracted to men, as well as the one who is attracted to other women. And so, a long etcetera.