Which term defines the socially endorsed pattern that legitimizes men's dominance in society and is culturally normative?

• A. Patriarchy
• B. Hegemonic Masculinity
• C. Machismo
• D. Toxic masculinity

Answer: (B)

Hegemonic masculinity is the culturally celebrated pattern of behavior, attributes, and roles that legitimizes men's dominance in society. It sets the standard of what a "real man" should be—strong, in control, heterosexual, breadwinning, and emotionally restrained—and these ideals are reinforced by media, schools, families, and institutions, making male power seem natural and inevitable. This concept explains how a system of gender inequality endures: it’s not just about individual actions, but about everyday norms that normalize that power as the default. While patriarchy refers to the overall social arrangement that privileges men, hegemonic masculinity describes the cultural script that sustains and rationalizes that arrangement. Machismo is a culturally specific variant of masculine pride, and toxic masculinity focuses on the harms of restrictive norms rather than naming the overarching pattern that legitimizes dominance.