Masculinity in the Russian Mafia

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Recommended: The feature of hegemonic masculinity

Eastern Promises challenges the view of hegemonic masculinity as a a static, unified concept. By analyzing the behaviors of members of the Russian mafia, vory y zakone ("thieves in law"), particularly of Kirill and Nikolai, this paper will illustrate how masculinities are constructed, performed and reaffirmed in the context of the Russian mafia vory y zakone. The paper will begin by describing the main tends of masculinities theory, proposing that vory y zakone are creating oppositional masculinity. Keeping this context in mind, it will be illustrated how men in vory y zakone are constructing and performing masculinity through degradation of women more specifically sexual and verbal abuse, through the use of violence and heteronormativity. Lastly, it will be illustrated how tattoos also serve as display of masculinity. Masculinities in the context of the Russian Mafia Masculinities theory stems from the social constructionist view of gender, which argues that gender is not determined by biological sex but is an on-going social practice (Gartner, 2012). Masculinity is never fully achieved, and needs to be constantly performed in order to be proved and reaffirmed (Gartner, 2012). Importantly, men perform their masculinity to other men not women. The ideal form of masculinity in Western society is hegemonic masculinity, which all men desire but not all men in society can achieve. It is the “prevailing, most idealized form of masculinity in historical setting and it is always constructed in relation to various subordinated masculinities, as well as in relation to women” (Connell 1987). Those who cannot accomplish the ideal, hegemonic masculinity, form other masculinities such as oppositional masculinity. The Russian mafia vory y...

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...n In this essay it has been shown how masculinities are being performed, created and reaffirmed in the context of the Russian mafia, vory y zakone. This oppositional subculture construct their oppositional form of masculinity, which employs many aspects of hegemonic masculinity and exists it opposition to women and homosexuality. Men who are members of the vory y zakone, construct and perform their masculinity through the following behaviors. They degrade women sexually by treating them as a commodity and assuming dominance over them. Violence is performed as a way of displaying masculinity and the way in which violence is performed is important. Heteronormalivity is intertwined with masculinity and engaging in acts that reaffirm ones heterosexuality is important. Lastly, tattoos also serve as a way for the member of the vory y zakone to display their masculinity.

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