HEGEMONIC MASCULINITY AND RAPE CULTURE: NEGOTIATING MANHOOD AT A CANADIAN UNIVERSITY by © Lesley S. Derraugh A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Gender Studies, Department of Gender Studies Memorial University of Newfoundland May 2018 St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador ABSTRACT Using in-depth qualitative interviews with 12 male-identified individuals between the ages of 19 and 25 recruited from the Memorial University community, this project examines how men negotiate the complexities of hegemonic masculinity in a society in which that hegemonic masculinity is constructed as violent. This research is prompted by the current crisis in North America of campus rape culture and grounded in the need to identify solutions to the rate of sexual violence occurring in university communities. To examine masculinities in this context, I explore this key question: How do male-identified individuals understand and negotiate the intricacies of masculinity and societal expectations of what it means to “be a man”? to explore this, I turn to the following sub- questions: a) to what extent do participants identify with hegemonic notions of masculinity? b) what developmental experiences have most influenced their self- identification (either positively or negatively) with traditional masculine norms? c) how is rape culture understood, perceived and perpetuated (or challenged) by male-identified university students? Drawing on the theoretical work of gender researchers such as Raewyn Connell and Michael Kimmel, this thesis will include insights into the ways in which masculinities are being reproduced, challenged and resisted. Keywords: Masculinity, Rape Culture, Violence, Hegemonic Masculinity, Toxic Masculinity ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The writing of a thesis is a major undertaking and one which cannot be completed without the impact of a personal support system. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my parents, Clara and Bill, for their unending support during this process, both financial and emotional. I would also like to thank my sister Lynsey for her support. I am deeply indebted to my academic supervisors, Dr. Carol Lynne D'Arcangelis and Dr. Vicki Hallett, without whom this thesis would have become a series of incoherent ramblings and whose mentorship has proven invaluable throughout my grad school experience. This research would not have been possible without the 12 young men who volunteered to participate in the interviews. Their honesty and open vulnerability is something for which I will be forever grateful. Thank you to Rebecca Matthews, my research assistant, for her assistance in the transcription phase of this project. I would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of Joan Butler, the keeper of the forms, who keeps everything running smoothly in the Department, and who always has the answers. To my classmates, your input has been invaluable, but more importantly your companionship has made all the difference. To find a group of like-minded peers is rare, and to find ones with whom you actually want to spend your free time as well seems about as unlikely as stumbling across a unicorn. You are all my feminist heroes and I am iii so glad that we all found our way into this program. Thank you for putting up with my quirks both in and outside of the classroom. Courtney, you are the best study buddy. Thank you for not ignoring me. I also acknowledge the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for awarding me the Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship in 2015. iv DEDICATION For my grandfather, William Kenneth Derraugh, 1927-2016 You always have been and always will be my greatest academic cheerleader. Thank you for believing in my ability to do great things with my life. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iii Dedication ............................................................................................................................ v List of Appendices .............................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1 What is Rape Culture? ..................................................................................................... 4 Rape Culture on Campus ............................................................................................. 9 Literature on Dominant Masculinity .............................................................................. 13 “Oh Canada”: Canadian Masculinities in Context ......................................................... 16 Memorial, the Atlantic Ocean, and a Scandal of our Own ............................................ 17 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 26 Road Map of my Research ............................................................................................. 27 CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND METHODOLOGY .................... 29 Theoretical Framework .................................................................................................. 30 Active Social Construction of Gender ....................................................................... 32 Multiple Masculinities ............................................................................................... 33 Hierarchy of Masculinities ......................................................................................... 36 Hegemonic Masculinity ............................................................................................. 38 vi Michael Kimmel and the Themes of North American Masculinities ........................ 39 Theorizations of and Research on Masculinities and Violence ..................................... 41 Hegemonic Masculinity as Violent ............................................................................ 41 Messerschmidt and Structured Action Theory........................................................... 42 Kaufman’s Triad of Violence .................................................................................... 43 Hypermasculinity ....................................................................................................... 43 Jackson Katz and Anti-Violence Activism ................................................................ 44 Methodology and Methods ............................................................................................ 45 Methods and Research Design ................................................................................... 50 Participants ................................................................................................................. 53 Analysis ...................................................................................................................... 54 Interview Questions ................................................................................................... 56 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 59 CHAPTER 3: REPRODUCTIONS OF HEGEMONIC NORMS OF MASCULINITY .. 60 “What Does it Mean to You to be a Man?” ................................................................... 62 Bro Masculinity ......................................................................................................... 66 Kimmel's Rules of Manhood ..................................................................................... 68 Understandings and Definitions of Rape Culture .......................................................... 78 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 83 vii CHAPTER 4: POSSIBILITIES FOR CHANGE ............................................................... 84 “What does it mean to you to be a man?” Revisited ...................................................... 85 Context ....................................................................................................................... 85 Privilege ..................................................................................................................... 87 Masculinities and Rape Culture ..................................................................................... 90 Deeper Understandings of Rape Culture ................................................................... 90 Impacts of Rape Culture ............................................................................................ 96 Challenging Rape Culture .......................................................................................... 99 Feminist Identities ........................................................................................................ 102 Moving Forward: Possibilities for Change .................................................................. 104 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION ........................................................................................ 106 Major Findings ............................................................................................................