Teenage masculinity: The phrase conjures up images of adolescents who spend lots of time chasing after girls, playing sports, being loud and unruly, constant teasing, fighting, and other obnoxious behavior. While this may be an accurate description of adolescent masculinity, what’s missing from most mental pictures is the fact that some of these teens are girls.
In C.J. Pascoe’s study on adolescent masculinity and sexuality (Dude, You’re a Fag, 2007) she analyzes masculine behavior in teenage girls. Focusing on the female students that were described by themselves and others as “like boys”, Pascoe observed their behavior and finds that these girls have adopted dress, mannerisms, and other social behaviors that are traditionally seen as masculine. Within these girls the motivation for adopting masculinity seems to be differently motivated: one group seems to do it politically, the other socially.
The political minded group makes their masculine adoption choices aware that they are challenging ideals of how boys and girls are supposed to behave, as a way to examine the expectations of masculinity as a boy only choice. The other group instead adopts many markers of masculinity: dress, mannerisms, speech, activities. While this group is not consciously seeking to make a statement, their behavior does have a side effect: this group has considerable social power in the school.
Both groups served the same function in the end- they challenge the idea that masculinity is a boys only event.
In C.J. Pascoe’s study on adolescent masculinity and sexuality (Dude, You’re a Fag, 2007) she analyzes masculine behavior in teenage girls. Focusing on the female students that were described by themselves and others as “like boys”, Pascoe observed their behavior and finds that these girls have adopted dress, mannerisms, and other social behaviors that are traditionally seen as masculine. Within these girls the motivation for adopting masculinity seems to be differently motivated: one group seems to do it politically, the other socially.
The political minded group makes their masculine adoption choices aware that they are challenging ideals of how boys and girls are supposed to behave, as a way to examine the expectations of masculinity as a boy only choice. The other group instead adopts many markers of masculinity: dress, mannerisms, speech, activities. While this group is not consciously seeking to make a statement, their behavior does have a side effect: this group has considerable social power in the school.
Both groups served the same function in the end- they challenge the idea that masculinity is a boys only event.
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