Gender Role Advantage
If someone studying the psychology of men only examined things through gender role conflict and social construction lenses, he/she would be left bewildered by why anyone would maintain a traditional masculine identity or gender role since it can cause such significant problems. Yet, vast numbers of men hold at least some (if not most) of those characteristics and behaviors despite experience of gender role conflict. So why does this traditional masculinity continue in the US and comparable versions persist across the globe? Some researchers and writers say that it is a way to maintain oppression of women, other cite the inter-generational transmission process or larger cultural pressures, and there is also some general predisposition to these things from biological factors.
An additional explanation that gets very little consideration in the professional literature is that men who maintain at least some level of traditional masculinity benefit tremendously, often outweighing the costs associated with it. These benefits are what I call “gender role advantage” (GRA), which is operationally defined as “the benefits from maintaining a particular gender role and identity.” Put simply, a traditional gender role is functional in many aspects of men's lives. I believe that GRA is the primary factor that prevents men from readily adopting (and teaching their sons) more flexible masculine identities and gender roles, which would reduce gender role conflict and associated problems.
There are a variety of areas of hypothesized benefits from holding a traditional male gender role on two levels. The two primary benefits are greater likelihood of:
(1) Acceptance from other men
(2) Success in activities and occupations traditionally pursued by or required of men
Each of these have secondary benefits that include increased:
(a) Social status
(b) Income/resources
(c) Self-esteem
(d) Interest from mates
This highlights two philosophical underpinnings of the GRA concept. First, sociologist Michael Kimmel proposed that a man’s value in the world is determined by other men. Therefore, if other men collectively favor traditional masculinity, then someone adopting this can expect to be more readily accepted and rewarded by the world of other men. Second, the major components of the traditional male gender role prepare men well for occupations and activities that they have traditionally held (or were required to perform) over evolutionary time. Hunters, warriors, builders, and leaders are better equipped for success with characteristics identified as part of traditional masculine ideology.
In conclusion, for individual men, a tension exists related to gender role and identity. Maintaining a certain level of traditional masculinity (in identity and role) is the source of great rewards (gender role advantage) and also the source of problems (gender role conflict). Most people do not give up their benefits to reduce the problems unless there is an unfavorable imbalance and they have access to other models and resources.
An additional explanation that gets very little consideration in the professional literature is that men who maintain at least some level of traditional masculinity benefit tremendously, often outweighing the costs associated with it. These benefits are what I call “gender role advantage” (GRA), which is operationally defined as “the benefits from maintaining a particular gender role and identity.” Put simply, a traditional gender role is functional in many aspects of men's lives. I believe that GRA is the primary factor that prevents men from readily adopting (and teaching their sons) more flexible masculine identities and gender roles, which would reduce gender role conflict and associated problems.
There are a variety of areas of hypothesized benefits from holding a traditional male gender role on two levels. The two primary benefits are greater likelihood of:
(1) Acceptance from other men
(2) Success in activities and occupations traditionally pursued by or required of men
Each of these have secondary benefits that include increased:
(a) Social status
(b) Income/resources
(c) Self-esteem
(d) Interest from mates
This highlights two philosophical underpinnings of the GRA concept. First, sociologist Michael Kimmel proposed that a man’s value in the world is determined by other men. Therefore, if other men collectively favor traditional masculinity, then someone adopting this can expect to be more readily accepted and rewarded by the world of other men. Second, the major components of the traditional male gender role prepare men well for occupations and activities that they have traditionally held (or were required to perform) over evolutionary time. Hunters, warriors, builders, and leaders are better equipped for success with characteristics identified as part of traditional masculine ideology.
In conclusion, for individual men, a tension exists related to gender role and identity. Maintaining a certain level of traditional masculinity (in identity and role) is the source of great rewards (gender role advantage) and also the source of problems (gender role conflict). Most people do not give up their benefits to reduce the problems unless there is an unfavorable imbalance and they have access to other models and resources.