Masculinity Traits in Unemployed Bogota Men

This article explores the masculinity traits of unemployed heterosexual men from Bogota with families. The study followed an interpretive paradigm with a qualitative approach. A multiple exploratory case study was proposed with seven heterosexual men from Bogota, Colombia, located through a proven, purposeful, and convenience snowball. Seven in-depth interviews were conducted before informed consent, using textual and contextual narrative analysis. Some masculinity traits were recognized: aggressiveness, felt as the social authorization to get annoyed or bothered; mastery and control of domestic dynamics and over their emotions; social recognition of their behaviors by others; and spaces for sociability, reflected in need for spaces for homosocialization. Such masculinity traits are reconfigured by hegemonic masculinity. In addition, the lack of sociability spaces in which they can talk about their emotions freely, away from gender prejudices and masculinity stereotypes, is highlighted.