Paying for Masculinity: Boys, Men and the Patriarchal Dividend

Men Commit Crimes. Men Are Violent. Men Start Wars. Men Have Power. n Paying for Masculinity, Murray Knuttila argues that male dominance is best understood in the context of the particular mode of gender practice-hegemonic masculinity-that typifies patriarchal gender orders. This mode of masculinity permeates our society media and culture. It persists because of "the patriarchal dividend," because men directly benefit from their dominance in society. But these benefits exact a price, first and foremost from women and girls, and this price far outweighs the benefits enjoyed by men. Knuttila illustrates how ingrained the patriarchal dividend is in society and encourages non-hegemonic forms of masculinity, which are ultimately to the benefit of everyone.