The Drive for Muscularity and Masculinity: Testing the Associations Among Gender-Role Traits, Behaviors, Attitudes, and Conflict

Prior qualitative research has suggested that people assume muscular men are more masculine. This assumption was tested quantitatively in 2 studies. In Study 1, men and women completed measures of gender-role traits and behaviors, whereas in Study 2, men completed measures of gender-role conflict an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology of men & masculinity 2005-04, Vol.6 (2), p.83-94
Main Authors: McCreary, Donald R, Saucier, Deborah M, Courtenay, Will H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body Image
Female
Femininity
Human
Human Sex Differences
Male
Masculinity
Muscles
Physique
Role Conflicts
Sex Role Attitudes
Sex Roles
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Summary:Prior qualitative research has suggested that people assume muscular men are more masculine. This assumption was tested quantitatively in 2 studies. In Study 1, men and women completed measures of gender-role traits and behaviors, whereas in Study 2, men completed measures of gender-role conflict and traditional attitudes about men. Study 1 revealed a correlation between self-rated male-typed traits and behaviors, with a need to be more muscular for both men and women. In Study 2, men with more traditional attitudes about men also wanted to be more muscular; men who wanted to be more muscular were experiencing conflict with regard to society's expectations that they be successful, powerful, and competitive, and they reported that finding a balance between work and leisure is difficult.
ISSN:1524-9220
1939-151X
DOI:10.1037/1524-9220.6.2.83