Magazine and reader constructions of 'metrosexuality' and masculinity

A Membership Categorisation Analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID3625477
AuthorsMatthew Hall (0000-0001-5170-6124), Brendan Gough (0000-0001-7438-0139, Nottingham Trent University)
Year2011
Volume20
Issue1
Pages67-86
Publication date2011-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Gender Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0958-9236 • E-ISSN: 1465-3869
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09589236.2011.542023
OpenAlexW2057106139
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited28

Since the launch of men's lifestyle magazines in the 1980s, academic literature has predominantly focused on them as a cultural phenomenon arising from entrepreneurial and commercial initiatives and/or as cultural texts that proffer representations of masculinity such as ‘new lad’ and ‘new dad’. This paper steps aside from the focus on culture and, instead, treats magazine content as a discursive space in which gender and sexuality are oriented to, negotiated, and accomplished within and beyond the magazine itself (i.e. through readers' responses). Specifically, membership categorisation analysis is deployed to explore how the relatively new (and perhaps alternative) category for men – ‘metrosexual’ – is presented and received. Our analysis suggests that masculinity concerns are central in debates about ‘metrosexuality’, with self-identified ‘metrosexuals’ invoking heterosexual prowess and self-respect on the one hand, and critics (e.g. self-identified ‘real men’) lamenting ‘metrosexuality’ for its perceived effeminacy and lack of authenticity on the other. Implications for understanding contemporary masculinities are discussed

Art · Aside · Content analysis · Epistemology · Human sexuality · Linguistics · Literature · Masculinity · Phenomenon · Social science · Sociology · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · Media, Gender, and Advertising

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