Masculinity(ies) in “Feminine” Fields: Thoughts, Prejudices, Experiences

Gender patterns are the most important factor in the reconstruction of areas specific to women and men in today’s societies. For this reason, it is found to be odd that women are in professional and educational areas that are under the monopoly of men. On the other hand, the masculinity of men who are in the fields that are considered specific to women is also questioned. One of the areas which are under the dominance of women is the department of child development. There are a small number of male students in this field. The purpose of the current study is to discuss how men position themselves and how they construct masculinity in feminine-dominant areas by crystallizing the
experiences, feelings and thoughts of male students who study in the department of child development dominated by women .To this end, in-depth interviews were conducted with male students attending the Department of Child Development in Bilecik Seyh Edebali University and the data obtained were analyzed by using the descriptive analysis. Based on these data, it has been concluded that the existence of different and multiple forms of masculinity, such as hegemonic masculinities constructed with neoliberalism and conservatism ethos, subaltern males, and positive-egalitarian males.