Men, Dance, and Stigma: An Exploration of Male Dancers' Embodied Identity Formation Experiences Amid the Phenomenon of Toxic Masculinity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55927/modern.v5i5.72Keywords:
Embodied Identity, Toxic Masculinity, Art Dance, Hegemonic MasculinityRemove Hegemonic MasculinityAbstract
Dance is a medium for self-expression, where the body conveys emotions, experiences, and identities often hard to express verbally, aligning with the concept of embodied identity. For male dancers, embodied identity formation involves both bodily experience (living in the body) and social interactions (living in relation to others and society). Gender stigma and stereotypes toward male dancers often cause psychological pressure, feelings of inferiority, and social isolation. However, these negative experiences can transform into strengths through identity formation via bodily expression, community support, and self-reflection. This qualitative phenomenological study explores embodied identity among male dancers amid toxic masculinity. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with four main informants male dancers and two experts in gender and contemporary dance. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) with ATLAS.ti and source triangulation, the study found that embodied identity begins forming early through family encouragement, environmental influence, and school assignments. Male dancers experience physical and emotional transformation, expressing themselves despite masculinity stigma. Support from family and community strengthens their identity, turning adversity into strength while creating inclusive dance spaces that expand the meaning of masculinity and foster psychological resilience
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