Hegemonic and Counter-Hegemonic Masculine Dispositions in the Middle Ages Cover Image

Hegemón és ellenhegemón férfibeállítódások a középkorban
Hegemonic and Counter-Hegemonic Masculine Dispositions in the Middle Ages

Author(s): Miklós Hadas
Subject(s): Sociology
Published by: Presa Universitara Clujeana
Keywords: Middle Ages;hegemonic and counter-hegemonic masculinities;knights;clerics;priest;monk;hybrid habitus

Summary/Abstract: Carrying on the line of thought of his earlier publications in Erdélyi Társadalom, the author continues the analysis of the long term transformation of Western masculinities. First, it is concentrated on the opposition between knightly and clerical masculinities, pointing out that the hegemonic knightly patterns are internalized by a partial disposition drill, while the counter-hegemonic clerical forms by a total disposition drill. Then, focussing on the dichotomy between the predatory knight and the knight, the dispositional universe of hegemonic masculinity is intended to be enlarged. It is emphasised that the archaic habitus-centre is built upon by permanently changing and relationally conditioned newer and newer dispositional layers. Then, the counter-hegemonic dispositional universe of the clerigy is put under scrutiny: the distinctions and sub-variations between, on the one hand, the priest and the monk, and, on the other, the different religious orders are outlined. Finally, it is argued that there are several transitory dispositional figurations between the two ideal-types, i.e. the borders between the knightly and clerical masculinities are blurred. To put it differently, by the end of the Middle Ages hybrid masculine habituses are being formed.

  • Issue Year: 14/2016
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 93-128
  • Page Count: 36
  • Language: Hungarian