Who gets to feel important? Masculinity constructions, feminized work, and self-perceived social status among European men: how do European men who embody hegemonic versus caring masculinities differ in their self-perceived social status across masculinized and feminized occupational spheres?

Abstract

TFM guanyador del IV Premi Treball de Fi de Màster en Prespectiva de Gènere. Edició 2023-2025

Màster Universitari en Recerca en Sociologia i Demografia. Curs 2024-2025

Tutora: María José González

This thesis explores how European men’s constructions of masculinity, categorized as hegemonic or caring, shape their self-perceived social status within segmented gendered occupational spheres. Therefore, masculinity is analyzed beyond dominance and privilege, as alternative masculinities emerge and function as symbolic capital within structurally unequal labor markets in Europe. Thus, drawing from a decolonial and intersectional framework, this research analyzes data from the sixth wave of the ESS (2012) and applies generalized ordered logistic regression models, to explore the interplay between masculinity constructions, occupational gender segmentation, migration status, as well as national gender inequality and its influence on men’s self-perceptions of social status. This thesis aims to fill a key gap by integrating masculinity theory, labor stratification, and decolonial theory in the context of subjective status evaluations, while arguing that masculinity functions both as a privilege and compensatory identity, particularly in feminized or racialized spaces. Findings reveal that both hegemonic and caring masculinities are positively associated with higher self-perceived social status, though hegemonic traits have a stronger effect. However, contrary to expectations, gendered occupational segmentation does not significantly moderate this relationship, suggesting that masculinity constructions operate relatively independently of job gendering in shaping perceived status, while national context proves to be a significant moderator in the relationship.