Masculinity can be defined as the socially
accepted way of being a man. Further,
masculinity can be said to comprise many
masculinities, in that being “masculine” can
be defined and expressed in many different
ways. How a person conceptualizes his or her
notion of masculinity depends on several
factors, including the historical context,
geographic location, class standing, ethnicity,
culture, age, marital status, sexuality and
various individual differences. Therefore,
masculinity is not a stable construct; it is
varied in its construction and in its
enactment. It is also important to
acknowledge that while men will be the focal
point of this research, masculinity can also be
expressed by women (see Halberstam 1998).