Criticisms
The theory has faced criticism. Connell et al. state that its basic sources were "feminist theories of patriarchy and the related debates over the role of men in transforming patriarchy," and "hegemonic masculinities can be constructed that do not correspond closely to the lives of any actual men." Wetherell et al. state that it "offers a vague and imprecise account of the social psychological reproduction of male identities." Other critics have stated that it is a derogatory portrayal of masculinity and male identity, and that taken as a stable construct of gender, the theory tends to ignore the instabilities of all masculinities.
A growing body of work is pointing toward the deleterious influence of hegemonic masculinity on men's willingness to seek help for health-related issues.
Read more about this topic: Hegemonic Masculinity
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