Views on masculinity differ depending on many factors such as race, culture, class, place, and time. In OECD countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, traits traditionally seen as masculine (such as aggression and self-assuredness) are also seen as beneficial in the business world. Research suggests that these traditional views of masculinity have perpetuated bias and inequality in the economy, leading to “toxic masculinity.” Further, as we expand beyond the gender binary of male and female and push for equality among all genders, our understanding of masculinity, and its role in the economy, is shifting.
Below, we’ve curated a collection of our best research and insights on this subject.
Masculine norms keep us from gender equality
Supportive work-family policies have become increasingly more common but evidence indicates that these policies are far more likely to influence women’s behavior and preferences than men’s. This paper explores how men’s gender ideologies and their perceptions of cultural norms shape their response to supportive work-family policies. The research shows that men’s responses to these policies are shaped less by their own personal beliefs, and by their perceptions of what is accepted and expected by their male peers.
Jamil Jivani on “Why Young Men: Rage, Race and the Crisis of Identity”
Why is masculinity so difficult to talk about? In this video, Jamil Jivani, author of “Why Young Men: Rage, Race and the Crisis of Identity,” emphasizes that instead of “pushing away” men (particularly young men) from the conversation about gender and masculinity, we need to actively engage them. Learn more about this event and Jivani’s ideas on masculinity.