A Crisis Of Male Identity: 

A Crisis Of Male Identity: 

Context:

• In the recent times, due to the lack of making an identity through career and academics, male identity crisis has been exacerbated.

Introduction:

• Identity can be divided into two broad categories:
• “Achieved” identity derived from individual endeavors (education, work and so on)
• “Ascribed” identity that is derived from intrinsic characteristics (religion, ethnicity, gender, etc)
• The achieved identity of the Indian male is under attack today.
• Because even though aspirations are sky-high, employment growth decreases and thus self-esteem and emotional security are more likely to be found in the ascribed identities of the Indian male.
• Faced with increased competition and impossible odds in the job market, their achieved identity based on work and material markers is severely threatened.

Consequences:

• The increase in violence against women and minorities, rampant moral policing, and attempts to criminalize alternate sexualities are all part of a consequences against the threats to male supremacy.
• A recent scenario of the cow protection narrative which is being pushed today is part of a larger attempt to restore the supposedly lost glory of a muscular Hindu India.

Conclusion:

• The intention of the ascribed identities of targeting the “other” will not diminish in our context, unless purposefully countered.