Masculinity

Masculinity

Sexual identity is often thought to be determined by sex, gender and/or sexuality. These terms all define different aspects of sexual identity while they also interconnect with each other. Sexual identity is concerned with a sense of the ‘gendered self’ (Richmond, 1996, p.22). Richmond (1996, p22), defines this self, or sense of identity, as ever changing in response to personal experiences and others’ perceptions of us. The gendered self is also ever changing, as people react to stereotypes and socialisation techniques as a child, and as they are involved in relationships as adults. The term masculinity was originally considered as a definition of the male gender, however it has been used interchangeably to describe all aspects of men’s sex, gender and sexuality. The concept of masculinity has changed greatly in recent times, as traditional stereotypes, ideas about men’s bodies, their sexuality and sexual preferences are challenged and with the emergence of me...