Konstruktioner av maskulinitet inom manosfären: Politiskt innehåll och paradoxalt meningsskapande

Sammanfattning

This thesis examines and analyses how masculinity is constructed and politicized in selected parts of manosphere-discourses. Drawing on Raewynn Connell's theory of masculinities, Laclau & Mouffe´s discourse theory and Mouffe's distinction between antagonism and agonism, the thesis analyzes three YouTube-based podcasts/interviews, featuring the four most prominent figures associated with the manosphere. The thesis is focusing on"masculinity" and how it is articulated as a floating signifier, but also how its meaning is stabilized through chains of equivalences, hegemonic claims and antagonistic relations. The result of the study indicates that masculinity is constructed through ideals of dominance, control, strength, status and rationality. Paradoxically, masculinity is also constructed as threatened, weakened and marginalized by feminism, liberalism, institutional power and “woke-culture”. This thesis argues that this contradictory relationship works as a key mechanism through which masculinity becomes increasingly politicized. The portrayed position of victimhood is used to justify the return of hegemonic masculinity, traditional gender roles and male dominance.