Question

In your own words, explain the significance of the term 'fag', how it is used, and how Pascoe's study helps explain the concept of 'hegemonic masculinity'.

Answer 1

• It is an offensive term which is used for homosexuals especially in the western culture.This term is mostly used by those men who are influenced by toxic masculinity,beliving in traditional male norms and superior position in the society over women.
• They consider themselves to be "manly" because they are physically strong,have dominance over inferior female gender,suffer from homophobia,have misogynstic thoughts etc.They consider homosexuals to be weak and try to show their strength over them through physical and verbal abuses,which is why it is used as a derogratory term.
• Hegenomic masculinity is the practice which justifies the dominant position of men in our society,along of subordination of women and other marginalized ways of being a man which dont fall under the traditional male norms.
• Pascoe's research indicate racial masculinities.In his research he found out that their is a racial component in the context of American high school.The definition of masculinity was different for whites and other people of color.Also homophobia was also found to be differently manifested among non-white school population.
• He said that masculinity is defined in terms of power and dominance over weaker groups.And this concept of toxic hegenomic masculinity has been created by high school boys by using this derogatory term.This term is used by boys to create strong peer relationships and deal with their social anxiety by showing control over weaker boys.
• They call their peers jokingly this term which means a number of things,like being incompetent,showing emotion,dancing,caring about appearances or even sexual or platonic interests in other boys.They make fun of the exaggerated feminity in some boys by using this term, as according to them such boys are not "true boys".This gives rise to hegenomic masculinity in them and homophobia.