The Un-hegemonic male : dissecting the gender hierarchy through dating graduates

Abstract

In theorizing hegemonic masculinity, gender theorists have tended to conflate the gender hierarchy with the sex hierarchy, and operated within a largely rigid framework positing all masculinities as dominant over all femininities. Through a series of in-depth interviews with dating graduates who are also financially independent, my research illustrates that given the proliferate appropriation of masculinities by females, the gender hierarchy should be decoupled from the sex hierarchy. Furthermore, my research also shows that power is highly contextual and can emanate from femininities as well, casting doubt to the claim that masculinities categorically dominate femininities. Lastly, whilst empirical evidences of gendered behavior can be used to support traditional notions of power dynamics between dating partners, I highlight that the performative nature of these gendered behavior in the presence of an observer, or in the ‘front stage’, presents a farcical representation of power dynamics between couples.