Representaciones sociales de masculinidad y su expresión en el ámbito familiar

Abstract

This article is based on a research done in the Universidad Católica Popular del Risaralda during 2004 about the social representations of masculinity of men among 17 and 19 years old. This research had as its main objective to comprehend the senses of masculinity and its references. The methodology of such research was to program the formation of a group of 15 men of different careers who voluntarily wish to participate in the discussion group, which was developed in 12 workshops, additionally 5 deeper interviews were done to people who were part of the group. The theoretical foundation that helped as framework in the interpretation and analysis of the results gotten, is basically put into three categories: Social representations, socialization and identity, gender and masculinity.

Based on such research and for the development of this article, the social representations of masculinity found, were retaken, and from this point to explain the way these ones are expressed in the family environment.

This way is found that the main features in the central core of the social representation of masculinity are: strength, leadership, responsibility, authority, domain and lack of emotional expression. These aspects are analyzed in the way they are expressed in the family context. From the outer system of the representation the emotional dimension is analyzed as an aspect that turns in an issue which generates mobility and that breaks the fatherhood system that nurtures the social representation of masculinity.

The article is finished with a reflection about the challenges at a family level from the gender perspective