Men in conflict : a study on the construction of masculinity in Singapore

• Main Author: Adam Imran Abdeali
• Other Authors: Teo You Yenn
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Individualism, differentiation and struggle
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/48248
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This paper examines the apparent contradiction between the ideals and behaviour of young men in Singapore today. To this end, I examine how the concept of ‘masculinity’ is defined among young Singaporean men. As such, I identify the attributes these men associate with being ‘masculine’. Through interviews conducted with these men, I conclude that most of them have eschewed traditional notions of masculinity which often situate the male sex category in a position of dominance over the female. Such notions, I find, have been replaced by more egalitarian ideas that do support a greater level of equality between males and females. However, these men are unable to translate their egalitarian ideas into behaviour in their everyday interactions. This inability to translate thought into action can be explained by them feeling a pressure to conform to highly traditional societal standards of masculinity which, if not followed, would serve to discredit their status as ‘men’.