Being a "real" man; Honor killings and the performance of masculinity

Abstract: Abstract This case study looks at the topic of honor killings in relation to “doing” masculinity, in Jordan. A short overview is given on the dynamics of masculinities detected in the Jordanian public sphere. Furthermore, the study presents two cases of honor killings attempting to explore, through life-history interviews, what meaning the felonies might have had on the masculine identity of the offenders. The theory used here is the structured action theory based on Connell’s theory on hegemonic masculinity and West and Zimmerman’s notion on “doing” gender; the everyday social practices that we engage in to live up to our sex category. Messerschmidt suggests that gender is an endless project which we engage in from an early age within socially given sets of appropriate gender behaviour that we then choose to produce or reproduce. And although these practices are individual, they are done within a structure of situated social action that enable or constrain our practices of gender. Crime within the structured action theory is suggested to have a functional role as a resource for doing masculinity. When conventional social resources for accomplishing a successful masculinity is lacking, crime can fill that gap. My findings convey that the Jordanian hegemonic masculinity is one of militaristic and chivalry masculinity where honor is deeply incorporated. The study suggests that the offenders embodied “multiple masculinities” moulded by their backgrounds and discourses on age, class, ethnicity. The first case study shows a perception of a successful masculinity performance leading to an enhanced self-esteem while the second one shows tendencies of a failed masculinity performance leading to isolation.