Throughout their lives, men are expected to show or hide certain emotions based on societal norms for masculinity. Masculinity embodies all of the personality attributes that are traditionally associated with men. Some of these attributes include assertiveness, strength, aggression, and fearlessness. Expressions of masculinity in social situations can be thought of as a live performance. The performance of masculinity in the company of others, or the process through which individuals manage their emotions, is referred to as identity work.
A recent study by sociologists at Florida State University investigated how Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters managed their emotions in accordance with masculine social norms. Among MMA fighters, a key social performance involves controlling their sense of fear at the same time that they attempt to evoke it in their opponents. In the case of being an MMA fighter, there are plenty of things to be fearful of, whether it means losing a fight or sustaining a serious injury while in the ring. The researchers noted that some of the injuries reported by the MMA fighters included a detached retina, concussion, dislocated rib, and torn ACL. Even death is a possibility—one that inhabits the minds of MMA fighters before the start of a match.
One emotion that often surrounds fear is nervousness, which MMA fighters expressed feeling before the start of fights. However, feeling nervous is a more acceptable emotion (or less of a violation of masculinity) for MMA fighters than fear. If MMA fighters experience uncontrollable fear, it can undermine their performance during a match and result in shame from the audience. The researchers found that MMA fighters managed their fear and nervousness by approaching fights as business endeavors, developing a game plan, seeing fights as valuable experiences, and through emotional support from fellow fighters. Fighters also managed their fear by defining themselves as superior to other fighters. They often made attempts to foster fear in their opponents by exhibiting their physique during weigh-ins, going shirtless, and wearing outlandish hair styles like mohawks.
In addition to fear, men are also expected to manage their expressions of pain by appearing stoic in the face of injuries and other bodily trauma. Research among professional wrestlers illustrates some of the ways in which men manage and make sense of pain and physical suffering. Similar to MMA fighters, professional wrestlers often deal with severe injuries like fractures and herniated discs during the course of their careers. The fighters described the need to “psych themselves up” and to train their bodies not to react to physical trauma—which can include being thrown to the ground by another wrestler.
These two studies are illustrative of the ways in which certain attributes of masculinity, like the management of pain and fear, involve working through emotions and staging a performance in the company of others.
Suggested Reading
Smith, RT. (2008). Pain in the act: The meanings of pain among professional wrestlers. Qualitative Sociology.
Vaccaro, CA, Schrock, D, & McCabe, JM. (2011). Managing emotional manhood: Fighting and fostering fear in Mixed Martial Arts. Social Psychology Quarterly, 74, 414-437.