Middle-Class Manhood

Middle-class manhood is a paradoxical concept, at once precarious and powerful. It has been marked by fears of failure and inadequacy, while also representing an extraordinarily powerful social position comprising the influence and authority of political and ideological dominance. It represents the experiences, values, and fears of a particular social class, as well as a culturally dominant construction of male gender identity. As a dominant category of social identity, it has been a racially specific one that refers primarily to white men. While men of color may belong to the socioeconomic middle class, their experiences, beliefs, and values have remained outside the historical concept of middle-class manhood.