Adapting Performance: The Manifestation of Hybrid Masculinity in Karaoke Performances
Location
FA-152
Start Date
1-5-2026 9:40 AM
Department
Sociology
Abstract
Masculinity is performed in many different ways across a variety of social settings and contexts. This performance is particularly pronounced in the context of bar karaoke. Where bars are already settings of gendered consumption and performance, the karaoke performance serves to magnify this performance aspect. Men, in particular, perform masculinity in this context with the intent to embody hegemonic masculinity or challenge it through their performance of karaoke. One type of challenge can be considered hybrid masculinity, an incorporation of icons of femininity and marginalized masculinities that seems to expand and dilute what is acceptably masculine, but more often serves to surreptitiously reaffirm hegemonic masculinity (Bridges and Pascoe, 2015). This exploratory study uses participatory observation in the role of a karaoke host at a suburban bar outside of a large, Midwestern city to examine the manifestation of hybrid masculinity through an easily observable phenomenon: that of the (somewhat) humble karaoke show. As IRB approval was not sought prior to the beginning of the study, this presentation will be on literature and methodology only.
Faculty Sponsor
Juan Martinez
Adapting Performance: The Manifestation of Hybrid Masculinity in Karaoke Performances
FA-152
Masculinity is performed in many different ways across a variety of social settings and contexts. This performance is particularly pronounced in the context of bar karaoke. Where bars are already settings of gendered consumption and performance, the karaoke performance serves to magnify this performance aspect. Men, in particular, perform masculinity in this context with the intent to embody hegemonic masculinity or challenge it through their performance of karaoke. One type of challenge can be considered hybrid masculinity, an incorporation of icons of femininity and marginalized masculinities that seems to expand and dilute what is acceptably masculine, but more often serves to surreptitiously reaffirm hegemonic masculinity (Bridges and Pascoe, 2015). This exploratory study uses participatory observation in the role of a karaoke host at a suburban bar outside of a large, Midwestern city to examine the manifestation of hybrid masculinity through an easily observable phenomenon: that of the (somewhat) humble karaoke show. As IRB approval was not sought prior to the beginning of the study, this presentation will be on literature and methodology only.