Precarious manhood.
Abstract
The authors report 5 studies that demonstrate that manhood, in contrast to womanhood, is seen as a precarious state requiring continual social proof and validation. Because of this precariousness, they argue that men feel especially threatened by challenges to their masculinity. Certain male-typed behaviors, such as physical aggression, may result from this anxiety. Studies 1-3 document a robust belief in (a) the precarious nature of manhood relative to womanhood and (b) the idea that manhood is defined more by social proof than by biological markers. Study 4 demonstrates that when the precarious nature of manhood is made salient through feedback indicating gender-atypical performance, men experience heightened feelings of threat, whereas similar negative gender feedback has no effect on women. Study 5 suggests that threatening manhood (but not womanhood) activates physically aggressive thoughts.
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Masculinity, and being a "real man," is not an inherent trait but a socially constructed status that must be continuously proven and validated by others.
“According to the theory of precarious manhood, masculinity, and being a “real man,” is not an inherent trait but a socially constructed status that must be continuously proven and validated by others (Bosson & Vandello, 2011; Bosson et al., 2021;Vandello et al., 2008).”
From A Sexist Language? Gender Differences in Attitudes and Use of Gender-Inclusive Pronouns (2025) · cites this paper as Vandello et al., 2008
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“According to the theory of precarious manhood , masculinity, and being a “ real man, ” is not an inherent trait but a socially constructed status that must be continuously proven and validated by others (Bosson & Vandello, 2011; Bosson et al., 2021;Vandello et al., 2008).”
- Authors
- Vandello, J. A., Bosson, J. K., Cohen, D., Burnaford, R. M., & Weaver, J. R.
- Affiliations
- University of South Florida (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 2008-12
- Volume
- 95
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1325-1339
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W4241276195
- Cited by
- 797
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 61 · 2025: 80 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 71 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 91 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 20.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Keywords
- masculinity, manhood, precarity, social validation, gender threat, physical aggression, aggression, gender identity
- MeSH terms
- Affect, Gender Identity, Humans, Male, Social Identification, Young Adult
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