Hegemonic Masculinity

Define the term hegemonic masculinity.

A concept which is part of Connell's (1995) gender order theory, which can be defined as a practice that authorises and encourages male domination, therefore justifying the subordination of women and non-hegemonic male

where is the theme of hegemonic madculinity Central in?

Both Williams’ play, but also to the wider social and cultural contexts of post-war New Orleans

what is the most obvious form of masculinity in the play? Which characters is this evident in?

Hegemonic masculinity, through Stanley and Steve

what is the presentation of masculinity not?

Monolithic, there are also non-hegemonic masculinties on display or hinted at, through Blanche’s gay husband Allan and the comparatively effeminate Mitch

what can Allan be seen as?

A victim of heteronormativity

what does Williams’ portrayal of Blanche as a symbolic foil to Stanley, act as?

A social commentary on the treatment of women who owned their sexuality and rebelled against the patriarchal social norms of the time

what do many argue about the type of masculinity that Blanche’s late husband, Allan, holds?

Subordinate masculinity - where a person's qualities are lacking or the polar opposite of that of hegemonic masculinity. It may involve acting effeminate, not being heterosexual or being ‘too’ emotional

what is the 20th century idea of ‘passionate manhood’?

It evolved as a result of WWII. Men had gone off to fight and had returned to a propsering economy. These veterans were not so concerned with proving their manhood after facing death in WWII, they were more concerned with living in the way they desired

which character relates to passionate masculinity in the play?

Stanley Kowalski

what is an example in the play where Stanley comes across as engaging in the passionate type of masculinity?

Stanley prioritises pleasure over Stella and Blanche’s comfort - ‘‘go upstairs and sit with Eunice.’’ (scene 3). This demonstrates the level of ignorance to the fact that they may not be able to sleep due to the noise him and his friends were creating

in what part of the play, does Stanley display elements of self-made masculinity?

Scene 1, he emphasises his role as the reason for the income for the house, when he ostentatiously throws a package of meat at Stella

‘‘I couldn't believe her story and go on living with Stanley’’ (scene 11)

Stanley's psychological hold over Stella ultimately results in subservience and entrapment, to the extent that Stella is even blind to it. This leads her to refuse to leave Stanley, even at the cost of Blanche’s sanity

What does Stanley embody?

• The archetypal machismo and capitalist greed which permeates this post-war landscape

• Emblem of the new America, in which one can become whatever he wants to be regardless of background (American dream)

Define the male gaze theory.

• ‘male gaze’ coined from Laura Mulvey's 1973 paper Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema, is the perpetual act of illustrating women, in Literature, from a heterosexual and masculine space

• views them as sexual objects for the pleasure of the heterosexual male viewer

‘‘Stanley gives a loud whack of his hand on her thigh’’ (scene 3)

• Underlines the notion that the sexualisedmale gaze drives their relationship

• Physical violence and abuse is inextricably intertwined with sexual desire and machismo exploitation. From the harsh onomatopoeic verb ‘whack’ to the pornification of her ‘thigh’, Williams gives us an insight into the objectification of women in 1940s America

‘‘It's gonna be sweet when we can make noise in the night the way we used to and get the coloured lights going.’’ (scene 8)

Stanley euphemistically refers to sex. Stanley is often associated with lucrid colours - the poker night, the opening scene - and it seems he prefers lucrid colours during sex.The connection between coloured lights and sex, and lurid colours and Stanley links Stanley links his character to sex.

‘STELL-LAHHHHH!’ (Scene 3)

Stanley's prosperity for violence is encouraged by his intoxication. There is almost a primal, sub-human and animalistic sense of masculinity to him. This yell connotes mating call and is cohesive with the initial description of him as a ‘richly feathered male bird among hens.’