Hegemonic Masculinity in East Asia: China, South Korea and Japan

Abstract

This comparative research is aimed to discuss the similarities and differences of hegemonic masculinity in China, South Korea, and Japan. For each particular country in East Asia, the research specifically analyzes the reason for formation of hegemonic masculinity, and then discusses its implicit and explicit impacts on the countries. From the comparative research, the most obvious similarity is that Confucianism, in which men are in a dominant position, is greatly emphasized. In addition, both men and women are suffering from the harm of hegemonic masculinity. However, the formations of hegemonic masculinity in different countries are different. As Japan focuses on its own cultural reason and China focuses on the historical reason which lasts more than 2000 years, South Korea also has a unique reason that relates to army defense. Each country develops its hegemonic masculinity in a variety of ways and it is still influencing the society at this moment.