GRSJ224/hazingandmasculinity

Masculinity in University

Moving into adulthood can be a scary transition for most people. There are no longer parents guiding your morals, and building up your confidence. Men now seek validation from other men and willingly turn the other cheek in risky situations as a way to prove their masculinity to others. Many men will lie about their sexual experiences, drink and abuse drugs more often to appear strong rather than cowardly and men will speak demeaningly to/about women to appear more manly. Men try to increase their status and to do so, they follow men who already have a high-status and in university this tends to be fraternities. These men in fraternities tend to take part in hegemonic masculinity which is discussed below.

Hegemonic Masculinity

Hegemonic masculinity is a way to legitimize the dominant power of men in society and maintain the inferiority of the common man or any marginalized way of being a man . These men at the top tend to be white, heterosexual men and former members of fraternities.

85% of the men of the U.S. Supreme Court since 1910 were in fraternities.

U.S presidential cabinet members since 1900 make up 63% of men who were in fraternities.

120 out of 500 in Forbes 500 CEOs belonged to a fraternity.

These stats show just how many powerful men belonged to fraternities that continued to regulate hegemonic masculinity. These men are capable of many things because of their high status and are able to maintain the dangerous actions and ways of thinking that are associated with the ideologies of fraternities (as seen in Masculinity in University.)

Hazing

What is it?

The idea of hazing and the actions that come with it have been known about for centuries however when asking what the universal definition there is none. The FEA, Fraternity Executives Association defines hazing as "any action taken or situation created intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule." However, this definition doesn't quite encompass the meaning of hazing. Hazing can be criminal or non-criminal. When hazing is criminal it refers to when an individual was hurt, harmed or terrorized by another individual and these actions are forbidden by a hazing statute. Non-criminal hazing involves less dangerous actions but ones that still violate the statutes. Although it can be non-criminal, this does not mean that it is not harmful.

History of Hazing

The beginning of hazing can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, the hazing activities then included kidnapping, sexual favours and slavery. In the middle ages college students were hazed as a transition into a higher education. At the time, administrators believed that these physical and mental acts were good ways to teach obedience. In 1781, Phi Beta Kappa, a Harvard fraternity implemented hazing in their system which is still present today. Since then, hazing has spread to many other places, not just universities. Hazing is also present in the military, sports, and clubs. In the 1700's hazing was abolished as a result of numerous deaths and serious injuries. However it became popular again in colleges and universities in the 18th and 19th century. By 1989 there were already 95 deaths due to hazing incidences. Although many places ban hazing it is something that still occurs in society and will continue to occur unless a conscious effort is made.

Consequences of Hazing

In 2012 a student was found dead at Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house at Northern Illinois University. The cause of death was alcohol poisoning and cardiac arrhythmia. This incident caused 22 members of the fraternity to be arrested and charged with hazing.

In 2013 at Pennsylvania State University, a former pledge of Phi Sigma Kappa committed suicide after joining the fraternity. It was alleged that it was related to hazing incidents which included binge drinking, fighting other pledges, and sleep deprivation of 89 hours.

Aside from many deaths and serious injuries that are caused through hazing, it also impacts your mental health. 71% of people that experienced some form of hazing reported that there were negative consequences in their relationships, and psychological symptoms.

Masculinity and Hazing

Hazing is used in Greek Fraternity systems as a way to develop a hierarchy. The ones in control, the men already involved in the frat are at the top, and below them are other men who are trying to prove themselves worthy to be a part of the "brotherhood". Those at the top take advantage of their power and use hazing to "weed out" the weak men or the men that won't go along with their dangerous actions. Again, this is how hegemonic masculinity is reproduced.

Summary

Transitioning into university comes with many challenges for young men. They find they no longer have role models around them like their parents and look to other men around them. These men that tend to be associated with hegemonic masculinity also tend to belong to fraternities. Fraternities are a big part of the reproduction of hegemonic masculinities because the men in fraternities use their power over others and use it to humiliate them and sometimes physically harm them. This is called hazing and it is something that has caused a lot of injuries and deaths over the years. Hazing is very dangerous and is used as a way to hold power over others. Men will throw away their morals and beliefs in order to feel a sense of belonging with others.