An 8 page research paper that offers an outline for a research proposal. The writer, first of all, introduces the topic of how conceptions of masculinity vary according to cultural background which includes race and ethnicity. The writer then proposes that a brief survey of popular media may prove to be enlightening as to how the topic of masculinity is perceived differently by White and Black men. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_khmalest.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
according to racial and/or ethnic factors. Differences that exist between mens gender-related attitudes, and also differences in their perceived level of stress in regard to gender-related conflicts, is frequently attributed
to "cultural conceptions of masculinity and cultural differences in male standards" (Thompson, 2004). The following proposed investigation into how masculinities relate to racial and ethnic culture takes its starting position
that masculinity is a concept that is culturally, rather than biologically derived. Considering this, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that popular culture influences the ways in which masculinity is perceived.
Therefore, a brief survey of popular media, i.e., newly-released movies, newspaper and magazine articles may be enlightening about how masculinity is perceived. Research questions would investigate not only how racial
and ethnic masculinity is perceived, but also whether or not the white, mainstream conceptualization of masculinity is pictured more often than other and more favorably than other forms of masculinity.
Literature Review Thompson points out that the field of gerontology has been slow to abandon a perspective that focuses on a single definition of masculinity, on which stresses
"how socialization shapes the predisposition and temperament of men within a culture" (Thompson, 2004, p. 714). However, it is a basic paradigm assumption of mens studies that there are a
variety of masculinities in society and, therefore, it is a misnomer to speak of "masculinity" as a singular concept (Thompson, 2004). Kimmel and Messner in their 2003 book point out
that the definition of masculinity changes according to "generation, age, class, race and ethnic identity," as well as sexual preference and orientation (Thompson, 2004, p. 714). According to researchers,
African American men have been subjected to a socializing influences that are vastly different from those of White men (Wade, 1997). As they live in a different social reality, this