Article Review: Men, Masculinity and the Process of Sociological Enquiry by David Morgan
The issue of gender inequality has been one of contention for a long time. This is especially the case since many scholars, mostly sociologists, have treated masculinity and feminism as two different classifications and variedly rated based on the societal perception of the same. As a result, many scholars have examined the issue of masculinity as one guiding power relations between males and females while ignoring its influence in influencing masculine relations. As a result, there have been issues concerning the academic application and study of men and masculinity. According to Morgan, this observation is especially due to the problems of the increasing uncertainty of aspects of validity, truth, reliability, bias and verifiability within the frameworks of men and masculinity. Morgan seeks to evaluate this sociological problem relative to how sociologists exhibit it. In light of this analysis, the most crucial phrases within the article are:
- I am taking for granted the feminist critique of everyday sociological practice – whether in research or teaching, theorizing or empirical research – and am seeking to ask, in light of this critique, what are the implications for male researchers, for men in sociology? (Morgan, p.86).
This phrase indicates the central theme of the study: the discrepancies in the definition and approach of gender-based studies in sociology where men and women scholars are biased in their approach to studies based or due to influence by beliefs, norms and emotions.
- Women, in Kanter’s terms, are still ‘tokens’ or ‘minorities’ in most university departments. (Morgan, p. 96).
This phrase is also suggestive of yet another central theme of the study: gender inequality, in which case masculinity and feminism are considered as two distinct and self-sustaining aspects by the society and academicians as well.
- On the one hand, we may posit a cluster of terms to indicate a pattern we may call ‘sociological rationality’, itself a subset of academic or scholarly rationality. Among these terms, we may note ‘reliability’, ‘validity’, ‘falsifiability’, ‘verifiability’, ‘internal consistency’ and so on. These, and similar terms, are the staple diet of methodology textbooks and refer to the criteria by which sociological practices may be evaluated… (Morgan, p. 98).
This phrase gives the solution to the pre-existing problem of gender inequality.
This article explores the issues of masculinity, feminism, gender and gender inequality. Moreover, it explores the issue of institutionalization of gender inequality and socialization of gender in which case, masculinity and feminism are seen as elements of behavior and role. These are the objectives of the course and hence the reason for studying Morgan’s study. Considering the course materials, Morgan’s article and the fact that masculinity also plays a role among males (or feminism among females), it would be essential to explore the question:
What factors influence power relations among people of the same gender?
References
Morgan, D. (n.d.). Men, Masculinity and the Process of Sociological Enquiry.