Mans gender identity: theoretical aspects of research

This article is devoted to the theoretical aspects of the studying of man's gender identity. The quintessence of researchesavailable today is the publications of the leading domestic scientist I.S. Kon. One of the important ideas of the scientist is the thesisabout the socio-cultural context of the masculinity formation and the influence the social niche of its carrier has. Gender socialization ofthe man is connected with the historical process. The specificity of the man's gender identity is especially brightly shown in transientperiods. At the same time, besides the historically caused components of the man's gender identity, the researcher singles out the constantsof the man's behaviour, the intercultural gender properties - reference in the external world, greater role of man's community,propensity, aggression and others. I.S. Kon's another important position is a thesis according to which in the society there are sometypes of masculinity. Among the latter, it is possible to point out the prepotent form, representatives of which occupy the social top, andthe secondary, alternative forms, less prestigious or marginal. Many researchers agree with Kon's positions in their works. Thus,S.A. Ushakin underlines the patriarchal Judaism-Christian masculinity, the military-civil model of the antique Greece, the medievalform of masculinity with the code of honour and an institute of protection, etc. The researcher also marks that within separate culturesthe distinction within sexes are no less significant, than between the sexes; and men who mismatch prepotent specifications, feel socialpressure. E.R. Yarskaya-Smirnova addressing to the problem of the embodiment of social values in a man's body comes to a conclusionabout the distinction of masculinity in each culture, the hierarchy inside of the dominating man's culture. It shows the role of physicalstrength for the formation of the prepotent identity and social marginalisation of men characterized by physical differences from thedominating canon. E.Y. Meshcherkina marks that only life in line with a certain social man's habitus order causes the feeling of "habitusconfidence" in men. N.A. Shukhova has analysed the influence of gender identity on men's socio-psychological adaptation. The successof the latter, in the opinion of the researcher, is connected with the conformity of the man to the traditional views and requirements. Atthe same time, the major component of the current crisis of masculinity set on the boundary of the 21st century is the increased rigidityof the social requirements to men, which made them especially vulnerable in the conditions of the occurring changes.

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