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Disenfranchised Masculinities: The Portrayal of Men in Adult Education Journals 2003-2023

Lisa M. Baumgartner, EdD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4258-8362 [email protected], and Lihua Shang, MAView all authors and affiliations

https://doi.org/10.1177/10451595261431815

Abstract
References
Biographies

Abstract

This article reviews men-centered scholarship published in adult education journals from 2003 to 2023. The study addressed two questions: (1) How are men portrayed? and (2) How is hegemonic masculinity depicted? Men were represented as marginalized or deficient, as learners, as individuals negotiating identity, and as contributors to educational contexts. Hegemonic masculinity emerged through expectations of dominance in male-dominated fields (e.g., law enforcement), reluctance to acknowledge health concerns to maintain a virile image, and the prioritization of work and wealth. The literature also illustrated how race, sexual orientation, and age positioned some men as falling short of hegemonic masculine norms. These findings hold implications for research and practice in adult education.

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Biographies

Lisa M. Baumgartner, Ed.D., is a Professor in the Adult, Professional and Community Education program at Texas State University. Her research and scholarship focus on adult learning and development in marginalized populations including the LGBTQIA+ community, women bullied in the professoriate, and individuals living with chronic illness.

Lihua Shang is a doctoral student in the Adult, Professional, and Community Education program at Texas State University. Her research examines learning, cultural identity, and equity issues in adult education, with a focus on marginalized groups.

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