This research examines the relationship between masculinity and bystander intervention in crisis situations. Three vignettes were used in vignette-based, semi-structured interviews with 20 college men aged 18 and 19, during which they were asked questions about masculinity and the pressures they feel to appear masculine. Findings indicate these men felt they must not appear weak. This research suggests the pressure to act masculine plays a complex and important role in these young men's decisions about intervening in violent situations.
BorofskyG.StollakG., & MesseL. (1971). Sex differences in bystander reactions to physical assault. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 7, 313–318.
ChancerL. (1998). Gender, class and race in three high profile crimes: The cases of New Bedford, Central Park and Benson Hurst. In MillerS. (Ed.), Crime control and women: Feminist implications of criminal justice policy (pp. 20–31). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
4.
ConnellR.W. (1987). Gender and power. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
5.
ConnellR.W. (1995). Masculinities. Berkeley: University of California Press.
6.
DarleyJ., & LataneB. (1970). The unresponsive bystander: Why doesn't he help?New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
7.
FabianoP.PerkinsH.BerkowitzA.LinkenbachJ., & StarkC. (2004). Engaging men as social justice allies in ending violence against women: Evidence for a social norms approach. Journal of American College Health, 52(3), 105–112.
8.
HarariH.HarariO., & WhiteR. (1985). The reaction to rape by American male bystanders. The Journal of Social Psychology, 125(5), 653–658.
9.
HarrisonI.ChinI., & FicarrotoI. (1992). Warning: The male sex-role may be dangerous to your health. In KimmelM. & MessnerM. (Eds.), Men's lives (2nd ed., pp. 271–285). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
10.
KatzJ. Producer, & JhallyS. Director (1999). Tough guise: Violence, media, and the crisis in masculinity (Documentary). Northampton: Media Education Foundation.
11.
KimmelM. (1994). Masculinity as homophobia. In DischEstelle (Ed.), Reconstructing gender: A multicultural anthology (pp. 132–139). Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing Company.
12.
LevineM.CassidyC., & BrazierG. (2002). Self-categorization and bystander non-intervention: Two experimental studies. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 1452–1454.
13.
MesserschmidtJ. (1993). Masculinities and crime. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
14.
O'SullivanC. (1998). Ladykillers: Similarities and divergences of masculinities in gang rape and wife battery. In BowkerL. (Ed.), Masculinities and violence (pp. 82–105). Thousand Oaks: Sage.
15.
PiliavinI.RodinJ., & PiliavinJ. (1969). Good samaritanism: An underground phenomenon?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 13, 289–299.
16.
RidgewayC., & DiekemaD. (1989). Dominance and collective hierarchy formation in male and female task groups. American Sociological Review, 54, 79–93.
17.
RosenthalA.M. (1999). Thirty-eight witnesses: The Kitty Genovese case. Berkeley: University of California Press.
18.
SaboD. (2006). Masculinities and men's health: Moving toward post-superman era prevention. In DischE. (Ed.), Reconstructing gender: A multicultural anthology (4th ed., pp. 541–558). Mountain View: Mayfield Publishing Company.
19.
SandayP. (1990). Fraternity gang rape: Sex, brotherhood, and privilege on campus. New York: New York University Press.
20.
SandayP. (1996). A woman scorned: Acquaintance rape on trial. Berkeley: University of California Press.
21.
ScullyD. (1995). Rape is the problem. In PriceB. R. & SokoloffN. (Eds.), The criminal justice system and women: Offenders, victims, and workers (2nd ed., pp. 197–215). New York: McGraw-Hill.
22.
ShotlandL., & StrawM. (1976). Bystander response to an assault: Can a woman attract help?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 990–999.
23.
TisakM., & TisakJ. (1996). Expectations and judgments regarding bystanders' and victims' response to peer aggression among early adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 19, 383–392.
