The set of attributes, roles or behaviours associated with boys and men (e.g., strength and leadership) is known as what?

• A. Masculinity
• B. Gender identity
• C. Stereotypes
• D. Identity

Answer: (A)

This item is about how society defines what it means to be male in terms of expected characteristics and behaviors. That collection of attributes and expectations is called masculinity. It’s a social construct that includes traits like strength and leadership, and it can vary across cultures and change over time. It’s different from gender identity, which is a person’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else. It’s also distinct from stereotypes, which are oversimplified beliefs about a group, and from identity in a broader sense, which encompasses who a person is overall. So the term that best describes the set of attributes, roles, or behaviours associated with boys and men is masculinity.