When feeling under threat: the role of slurs and compensatory manhood acts.

This paper identifies a novel function of slurs—compensatory manhood acts (CMAs)—alongside their more widely recognised subordinating, weaponised, and insider/outsider functions. CMAs occur when men perceive their masculinity as being under threat and respond by engaging in hypermasculine behaviours...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Synthese Vol. 205; no. 4; pp. 1 - 24
Autores principales: Berškytė, Justina, Valoschi, Adelina, Popa-Wyatt, Mihaela
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Springer Nature Apr2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=184330061&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: hlh
    uiTerm: 184330061
    longDbName: Humanities International Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        00397857
        4LI
      jtl: Synthese
      issn: 00397857
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Apr2025
      vid: 205
      iid: 4
      pid: 237
      pub: Springer Nature
    artinfo:
      ui:
        184330061
        10.1007/s11229-025-04986-9
      ppf: 1
      ppct: 23
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
              size: 1MB
      tig:
        atl: When feeling under threat: the role of slurs and compensatory manhood acts.
      aug:
        au:
          Berškytė, Justina
          Valoschi, Adelina
          Popa-Wyatt, Mihaela
        affil: https://ror.org/027m9bs27 Philosophy Department, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PL, Manchester, Greater Manchester, UK
      sug:
      keyword:
        Compensatory manhood acts
        Illocutionary acts
        Insider/Outsider function
        Masculinities
        Normative profile
        Slurs
        Subordination
        Weaponised uses
      ab: This paper identifies a novel function of slurs—compensatory manhood acts (CMAs)—alongside their more widely recognised subordinating, weaponised, and insider/outsider functions. CMAs occur when men perceive their masculinity as being under threat and respond by engaging in hypermasculine behaviours, including the use of misogynistic and homophobic slurs. Drawing on sociological findings, we argue that in their compensatory function, slurs are effective tools to restore status, assert dominance, and maintain hegemonic masculinity. Using a conventionalist framework for speech acts, we argue that CMSAs are illocutionary acts in their own right, separate from but interwoven with other functions of slurs. We conclude by raising the theoretical question of how multiple illocutionary forces can coexist in a single utterance and suggest that illocutionary relativism may provide a fruitful approach to understanding these speech acts.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
    refInfo:
    copyright:
      @attributes:
        flag: Y
      custom: Synthese is a copyright of Springer, 2025. All Rights Reserved.
      item: Synthese
      holder: Springer Nature
      dt:
        @attributes:
          year: 2025
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N