Hybridizing Masculinity: Gender Identity Negotiation Among Men's Rights Activists

Men's rights activists have attracted increasing attention in the wake of contemporary feminist mobilizations such as #MeToo. Despite the immense popularity of the men's rights movement in the popular media, the men's rights movement has failed to attract sustained scholarly attention. This study analyzes fifteen (15) in-depth, semi-structured interviews with college students who identify as men's rights activists. Using hybrid masculinities theory, this study examines gender identity negotiation within the context of their movement affiliation. In particular, this study finds that men's rights activists engage in three forms of masculinity hybridization: fortifying boundaries, strategic borrowing, and discursive distancing. Study implications and directions for future research are also discussed.