Hegemonic masculinity: A critique from the discourses of power and gender

Abstract

The essay “Hegemonic Masculinity: A Critique from Power and Gender Dynamics” explores the concept of hegemonic masculinity using Michel Foucault's theoretical framework. It argues that discourse serves as a mechanism to create and perpetuate power and gender relations in patriarchal societies. The essay posits that discourse not only reflects power struggles but also designs, legitimizes, and consolidates them through various political, cultural, social, and economic instruments, influencing both men and women within these societies.

Foucault effectively explains how power and knowledge are interdependent. History reveals how social norms are shaped, and through the discourse of hegemonic masculinity, characteristics like competitiveness and aggression are highlighted and privileged. These traits sustain gender inequality by enforcing a model that marginalizes women and also men who do not conform to this ideal. This perpetuates tensions within traditional male roles, resulting in symbolic and physical violence affecting all genders.

Within the Mexican context, the archetype of the "macho" reinforces gender hierarchies, restricting women’s access to spaces of power. In educational settings, such practices—whether subtle or overt—generate violence that perpetuates inequalities. Therefore, it is essential to deconstruct the model of hegemonic masculinity through education, explicitly addressing these practices to foster gender perspectives and inclusive language that acknowledges all gender identities.

The essay emphasizes the transformative role of education and awareness in reshaping cultural and structural norms. By questioning narratives sustaining hegemonic masculinity and promoting values of equality and respect, the vision of a fair, equitable society rooted in fundamental human rights can become a tangible reality.