Boys Don ́t Cry : A study on how young men in Amman define honour

Abstract: Jordan is one of the countries in the Middle East where “honour culture” is a part of the Jordanian society. “Honour culture” is often accused of leading to honour killings. While there are several studies on honour and femininity in the Middle East, there are less research done on masculinity and young men in the region. Women are often the victims and researchers tend to have the focus on them, but what about the young men who grow up in the Jordanian society? This study was conducted in Amman, Jordan, to explore how young men live and define honour. During the months of October, November, and December 2021, 12 Jordanian and Palestinian men living in Amman were interviewed, whereas most of them grew up outside the capital. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and observations. As a result of phenomenological analysis of the material, common themes and meanings were identified. There are two different types of honour within the Jordanian society according to my findings: Sharaf and ́ird. Sharaf is what the participants define as their manhood because it makes you a righteous man and a better person. ́ird is what the participants associate with the Jordanian society ́s view on honour and is being described as a conservative and traditional way of thinking. ́ird is what the participants are taking distance from in the interviews, but it is discussed how accurate this is. In the patriarchal Jordanian society, it seems to be sharp gender-roles where each gender has different obligations and expectations, which is created by the society and taught trough life trajectories. As honour is a controversial and sensitive topic, this study provides a nuanced and understanding of gender roles, family structures, and masculinity behind the tradition, as well as the feelings and opinions of those involved.