Examining attitudes toward gender outlaws on Tik Tok

Abstract

This thesis examined current attitudes toward gender non-conformity in individuals who were assigned male at birth (GNCI-AMAB) and hegemonic masculinity. Evidence suggests the more people reject hegemonic masculinity, the more they find physical and social attraction toward GNCI-AMAB. Certain groups, such as queer sexually oriented people, women and nonbinary people, and people belonging to Generation Z, are more likely to reject hegemonic masculinity. Attraction toward GNCI-AMAB is not affected by the race of the GNCI-AMAB; however, violating hegemonic masculinity is more socially acceptable for white GNCI-AMAB than Black GNCI-AMAB. The findings of this study suggest societal institutions like families and media should reconsider how they rely on concepts related to hegemonic masculinity when depicting GNCI-AMAB.