Becoming the 'ideal man'.

Abstract

This study examines the way young men and women talk about their ‘Ideal Man’ and how they come to embrace the hegemonic (dominant) form of masculinity as the norm. Qualitative interviews exploring the issue within the contexts of friendship, romantic relationship and the family, showed that mismatch of ideals between men and women do exist, specifically with regards to household chores and childcare decisions. These may in turn affect individuals’ decision to marry or take flight from marriage and / or their childbearing decisions.

The interviews have also demonstrated a tendency towards a gender segregation of labour in many social contexts with women often expected to take up the caregiver’s role, especially in the family. As a result, many women in this study have voiced the pressure they face in having to give up their careers in order to take care of their children in future, even though they would prefer otherwise.