Power and Hypermasculinity in the United States

A survey of the United States from around 1890 to the present day along with an examination of how hegemonic masculinities have perceived their individual and collective power potential and how this has related to sensitivities towards masculine behaviours. This thesis investigates how changing power potentials (both real and perceived) between groups relate to changing sensitivities towards violence (both systemic and inter-personal), risk-taking behaviours, and harsh attitudes towards outsiders. Part and parcel to this investigation is an examination of the language of ‘hypermasculinity’, or language used by hegemonic groups to subordinate outsiders by creating, maintaining, or reformulating forms of stigmatisation. The writings and methodologies of Norbert Elias are utilised to facilitate this research in a manner that avoids static reductionism and instead explores the relational and reciprocal relationship between masculinities, femininities, and other groups over time. Findings demonstrate that there is a relationship between perspectives of power and attitudes towards ‘hypermasculinity’ and that the language utilised can drive these attitudes as well as act as a gauge of hegemonic perceptions of their individual and collective power potential.