Working-Class Masculinity and Status Maneuvering: Relational Construction of Migrants’ Masculinity

Abstract

This study focuses on the relational construction of masculinity, specifically on intra-group interactions, relational resources, and interactional accountability among co-ethnic migrant men with shared class backgrounds. Through participant observation and interviews with 72 migrant men, the research uncovers how these men engage in status maneuvering. This process involves the strategic adaption of diverse and fluid forms of masculinity supported by co-ethnic relationships established in various settings like workplaces, dormitories, and social gatherings. Status maneuvering aims to optimize earnings while navigating hypermasculine and feminized low-status workplaces, all while preserving men’s respectability outside of work. This reconceptualization of status maneuvering enriches our comprehension of gender interactional accountability, focusing attention on the sharing of co-ethnic knowledge. It also highlights the role of men with similar class backgrounds holding each other accountable for strategically performing fluid and dynamic masculinities through interactional resources such as humor, sarcasm, and humiliation.