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.