Hegemonic Masculinity And Emotional Suppression In Calum’s Character Of Aftersun
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29303/kopula.v8i3.11726Kata Kunci:
Aftersun; Boy Code; Calum; Maskulinitas Hegemonik; Supresi EmosionalAbstrak
This study examines the representation of hegemonic masculinity and emotional suppression in the character of Calum in Charlotte Wells’ film Aftersun (2022). The background stems from social pressure that systematically pushes men to hide emotional vulnerability, a pattern contributing to the often-overlooked mental health crisis among men. This study aims to identify representations of hegemonic masculinity in Calum, describe how emotional suppression manifests in his behaviour and dialogue, and analyse the impact of hegemonic masculinity on his emotional state throughout the film. The method used is qualitative descriptive that employs in-depth documentation and observation of scenes, dialogue, body language, and visual cues. Primary data was obtained from the film via Amazon Prime Video, while secondary data drew on Raewyn Connell's (2005) theory of hegemonic masculinity and William Pollack's (1998) concept of the Boy Code. Results indicate that hegemonic masculinity in Calum is manifested through his role as provider, reflexive bodily practices, and image management in social spaces. Emotional suppression manifests through verbal deflection, nonverbal regulation such as tai chi practice, and gender-based constraints rooted in childhood experiences. These masculinity norms deepen emotional isolation and accumulate psychological pressure that eventually exceeds Calum's capacity to withstand it. The study concludes that Calum's emotional suppression is not a personal failure, but a direct consequence of hegemonic masculinity norms that systematically deny men space to express emotional vulnerability.
Referensi
Bennett, S., Robb, K. A., Connor, R. C. O., & Bennett, S. (2024). “ Male suicide and barriers to accessing professional support : a qualitative thematic analysis .” Current Psychology, 43(17), 15125–15145. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05423-1
Cleary, A. (2022). Emotional constraint , father-son relationships , and men ’ s wellbeing.
Connell, R. (2005). Masculinities: Second Edition. University of California Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=C8zb0oBUZxcC
Connor, S., Edvardsson, K., Fisher, C., & Spelten, E. (2021). Perceptions and Interpretation of Contemporary Masculinities in Western Culture : A Systematic Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883211061009
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. SAGE Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=bttwENORfhgC
Daly, M. (2023). Global trends in emotional distress. 27–29. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.
Dennis, J., & Zolnikov, T. R. (2024). Demystifying Male Emotional Development : Exploring the Implications of Forced Gender Roles on Black American Males. 50(1), 68–90. https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984231191868
Freud, S., & Strachey, J. (1977). Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis. Norton. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=Sfz0l6WSqFgC
Levant, R., Kiselica, M., & Pryor, S. (2024). Assessing and Treating Emotionally Inexpressive Men. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003378518
Mckenzie, S. K., Oliffe, J. L., Black, A., & Collings, S. (2022). Men ’ s Experiences of Mental Illness Stigma Across the Lifespan : A Scoping Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883221074789
Mokhwelepa, L. W. (2025). Men ’ s Mental Health Matters : The Impact of Traditional Masculinity Norms on Men ’ s Willingness to Seek Mental Health Support ; a Systematic Review of Literature. https://doi.org/10.1177/15579883251321670
Pollack, W. S. (1998). Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons from the Myths of Boyhood. Random House. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=bjmTAAAAIAAJ
River, J. (2021). Masculinities, emotions and men’s suicide. February, 910–927. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13257
Rogante, E., Cifrodelli, M., Sarubbi, S., Costanza, A., Erbuto, D., Berardelli, I., & Pompili, M. (2024). The Role of Emotion Dysregulation in Understanding Suicide Risk : A Systematic Review of the Literature. 1–18.
Vickery, A. (2021). Men ’ s Help-Seeking for Distress : Navigating Varied Pathways and Practices. 6(November), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.724843
Unduhan
Diterbitkan
Terbitan
Bagian
Lisensi
Hak Cipta (c) 2026 Aprilia, Fadillah, Ferdias Prihatna Sari
Artikel ini berlisensi Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Kopula: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Bahasa, agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY License). This license allows authors to use all articles, data sets, graphics, and appendices in data mining applications, search engines, web sites, blogs, and other platforms by providing an appropriate reference. The journal allows the author(s) to hold the copyright without restrictions and will retain publishing rights without restrictions.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in Kopula: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Bahasa.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
