Masculinity Scripts, Good Life and Familial Intentions: the Case of Young Lithuanian Men

Abstract

Analyzing 30 semi-structured interviews with 19–34-year-old Lithuanian men, the article focuses on the interconnection of these men’s scripts of masculinity, good life and familial intentions. Despite differences in class, education, sexual orientation, age and physical ability, most men adhered to the traditional masculinity script based on very normative male ideals and practices. In this script prevalent in the Lithuanian society, a man was manly, strong, economically secure, career-minded and successful breadwinner for his family. A significantly smaller part of the interviewed men were proponents of the second masculine script of a ‘sensitive new age man’ based on an egalitarian philosophy of caring, support and respect for others. However, both traditional and ‘dissident’ masculinity scripts remained equally linked to the reproduction of a traditional fantasy of family life/partnership and childbearing. Thus, it is possible to conclude that the choice of different masculinity scripts does not significantly influence the respondents’ familial intentions and visions of good life.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ss.86.4.7882