Skip to main content
Log in

Consumer Masculinity Behavior Among College Students and Its Relationship to Self Esteem and Media Significance

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sex Roles Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate male college students in the southeastern United States to identify factors associated with consumer masculinity behavior. The variables of self-esteem and media significance were tested as possible predictors of consumer masculinity behavior. A total of 219 surveys were used as the sample for this study. Pearson correlation analysis tested relationships among the variables, and linear regression was used to further test the nature of the relationships identified. Results indicated that media significance and appearance-related self-esteem were significant predictors of consumer masculinity behavior. Limitations and implications are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Attwood, F. (2005). Inside out: Men on the ‘home front.’. Journal of Consumer Culture, 5, 87–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bordo, S. (1999). The male body: A new look at men in public and private. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson, J. (2005). Contesting masculinity’s makeover: Queer eye, consumer masculinity, and straight-acing gays. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 29, 235–255 July.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cotton Incorporated. (2002). Fashion heavyweight: Young men’s robust growth shows no signs of slowing. Retrieved January 20, 2004, from, http://www.cottoninc.com/lsmarticles/?articleID=381.

  • Cotton Incorporated. (2004). More and more men warm up to shopping. Retrieved January 20, 2005, from http://www.cottoninc.com/ConsumerNews/MenWarmUpShopping/.

  • Cotton Incorporated. (2006). Creative retailing can entice the elusive male customer. Retrieved April 16, 2006 from http://www.cottoninc.com/lsmarticles/?articleID=482.

  • Davidson, L., & Gordon, L. (1979). The sociology of gender. Chicago: Rand McNally College Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, T. (1997). Men in the mirror: Men’s fashion, masculinity and consumer society. London: Cassell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Firat, A. (1994). Gender & consumption: Transcending the feminine? In J. Costa (Ed.) Gender issues and consumer behavior (pp. 205–228). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galilee, J. (2002). Class consumption: Understanding middle-class young men and their fashion choices. Men and Masculinities, 5, 32–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garner, D., Garfinkel, P., Schwartz, D., & Thompson, M. (1980). Cultural expectations of thinness on women. Psychological Reports, 47, 483–491.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gauntlett, D. (2002). Media, gender and identity. London: Routledge.

  • Gerbner, G. (1999). Cultivation analysis: An overview. Mass Communication and Society, 3–4, 175–194.

    Google Scholar 

  • Global Information Inc. (2004). The U.S. market for men’s grooming products, 3rd Edition. Retrieved April 19, 2006 from, http://www.the-infoshop.com/study/pf16754_grooming_products.html (January).

  • Grogan, S., & Richards, H. (2002). Body image focus groups with boys. Men and Masculinities, 2, 219–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunter, B. (1986). Television and sex role stereotyping. London: John Libbey.

    Google Scholar 

  • Helgeson, V. (2002). The psychology of gender. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, D. (2001). Social comparison and body image: Attractiveness comparison to models and peers among adolescent girls and boys. Sex Roles, 45, 645–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser, S. (1985). The social psychology of clothing. New York: MacMillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimmel, M. (1987). Rethinking masculinity: New directions in research. In M. Kimmel (Ed.) Changing men: New directions in research on men and masculinity (pp. 9–24). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaFrance, E. (1995). Men, media and masculinity. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, M., & Kennedy, P. (1994). The measurement of social comparison to advertising models: A gender gap revealed. In J. Costa (Ed.) Gender issues and consumer behavior (pp. 104–124). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mishkind, M., Rodin, J., Silverstein, L., & Streigel-Moore, R. (1986). The embodiment of masculinity: Cultural psychological and behavioral dimensions. In M. Kimmel (Ed.) Changing men: New directions in research on men and masculinity (pp. 37–52). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, J. (1992). Fat chance: The myth of dieting explained. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otnes, C., & Mcgrath, M. (2001). Perceptions and realities of male shopping behavior. Journal of Retailing, 77, 111–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pleck, J. (1975). Masculinity-femininity: Current and alternative paradigms. Sex Roles, 1, 161–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohlinger, D. (2002). Eroticizing men: Cultural influences on advertising and male objectification. Sex Roles, 46, 61–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1989). Society and the adolescent self-image. Revised edition. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.

  • Seely, C. (2003). Metrosexuals: A gay conception. Southern Voice, 16(34), 7 & 55October 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, M. (1994, November 15). Here come the mirror men. The Independent, p. 22.

  • Sommers-Flanagan, R., Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Davis, B. (1993). What’s happening in music television? A gender role content analysis. Sex Roles, 28, 745–753.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, K. (2005, August 25). ‘Men’s Vogue’ goes for the sophisticated guy. USA Today. Retrieved April 19, 2006 form, http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-08-24-mens-vogue_x.htm.

  • Thompson, M. (2000). Gender in magazine advertising: Skin sells best. Clothing and Textile Research Journal, 18, 178–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres, I., Summers, T., & Belleau, B. (2001). Men’s shopping satisfaction and store preferences. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 8, 205–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wible, M. (2005). Men.style.com to launch January 20. Retrieved April 19, 2006 from, http://men.style.com/images/services/pdf/menstylecomfinalrelease.pdf.

  • Wolf, N. (1991). The beauty myth: How images of beauty are used against women. New York: Anchor Books.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan M. Hathcote.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Conseur, A., Hathcote, J.M. & Kim, S. Consumer Masculinity Behavior Among College Students and Its Relationship to Self Esteem and Media Significance. Sex Roles 58, 549–555 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9366-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-007-9366-2

Keywords

Navigation