Normative masculinity or the male dimension of the gender issue

Abstract

The article shows that normative masculinity, i.e. the dominant image of the «real man» in modern public consciousness, became a natural consequence of the practical realization of the enlightenment ideals of secular humanism. According to it, the engine of social progress can only be men who, due to their natural tendency to rationality, can and should dominate all manifestations of feminine in the broadest sense of the word. Accordingly, the formation of a man has been taking place in a harsh homosexual environment, through opposition to everything feminine and domination over it. This openly anti-female program for the development of masculinity has become a significant obstacle not only to the social self-realization of women, the establishment of gender and social equality, but has also led to open oppression of those men who have not me the basic regulations. Normative masculinity proved to be no less pernicious for «real men» who, in the process of constantly confirming their masculinity, have devalued those universal qualities which, according to the prevailing enlightenment ideals, have been traditionally considered feminine. Public romanticization of this idea, especially in transitive societies, leads to mental and, with it, physical mutilation of men.