For our Research Spotlight Series this month, we spoke to the authors of Beyond Traditional Masculinities: Women’s Perception of New Masculinities. The authors sought to incorporate more diverse voices into the understanding of masculinities by conducting interviews with Turkish women. Through qualitative analysis of interviews with these women, the researchers revealed the complexities surrounding evolving views of masculinities influenced by gender, generational differences, and social context, highlighting the interconnectedness of culture, gender, and society.

Aksu, A., Koc, Y., Borinca, I., & Otten, S. (2025). Beyond traditional masculinities: Women’s perceptions of new masculinities. Psychology of Men & Masculinities, 26(3), 384–399. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000502

What were the key questions you were addressing in this article?

We wanted to know how women in Turkey, where traditional masculinity is still strong but increasingly contested, perceive both old and new forms of masculinity. In other words: What do women think makes a “real man” today, and how do their views challenge or reshape long-held gender norms?

What were the main conclusions of your article?

The study shows that while traditional traits like being a breadwinner or physically strong remain part of the cultural script, women are increasingly valuing men who share responsibilities at home, show emotions openly, and build equal partnerships. Women criticized toxic forms of dominance and emotional restriction, and many highlighted a generational shift toward more progressive, egalitarian masculinities. We were happy to observe this shift.

What are the key implications of your article for research, policy, or practice?

Our findings suggest that women’s perspectives are central for understanding and shaping masculinity. For researchers, it highlights the need to study masculinities not only from men’s perspectives but also through women’s voices, especially outside Western contexts. For policymakers and practitioners, it points to the importance of promoting programs that encourage emotional openness and shared domestic roles, and of challenging cultural norms that still pressure men into restrictive roles.

Where do you see this line of research heading in the future?

We see potential in exploring how these new masculinities are lived out in practice, how men themselves respond to women’s expectations, and how these changes play out across different cultural and generational contexts. We are planning to do some comparative research—between countries, social classes, or communities—which could shed further light on how masculinities evolve in diverse settings.

How did you become interested in this line of inquiry?

This project grew from our long-standing interest in gender, identity, and inequality. We were struck by how much research on masculinity focuses on men’s voices while women’s perspectives are sidelined—even though women play a key role in shaping gender norms. Turkey, with its tensions between modernity and tradition, provided a unique setting to ask these questions and to capture women’s visions of what masculinities could look like in the future.

Beyond Traditional Masculinities: Women’s Perception of New Masculinities

Gender-Atypical Male Military Leaders Enhance Followers’ Training Performance

Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities , Division 51 of the American Psychological Association.