Guns Are For Boys

Gun control laws in the United States are markedly less restrictive than they are in other countries at our level of wealth and development. This has often been explained by the idea that guns are a symbol of individual freedom and sovereignty; people say they want guns because it is their Second Amendment right, because they want to keep themselves safe from a government they don’t trust, or for hunting purposes. But in fact a lot of the (likely subconscious) motivation for men comes from a desire to assert their masculinity. A recent study found that “white men in economic distress find comfort in guns as a means to reestablish a sense of individual power and moral certitude.” This attitude influences opinions about gun policy.

The pervasiveness of hegemonic masculinity in American society perpetuates these feelings. C. J. Pascoe observed in Dude, You’re a Fag that physical control is a defining component of traditional masculinity. Similarly, Time wrote that “the gun is simply the (extremely literal) external symbol of the underlying ideology: White male power comes through physical domination.” So now, guns are a symbol of power as well as a symbol of freedom, which is somewhat disturbing-- it indicates that freedom is intertwined with the ability to subjugate others.

“Gun culture” encompasses a very specific group of people: they are generally white, male, conservative, and economically disadvantaged. This group tends to tie their identity and sense of freedom and individuality to gun ownership; notably, 54% of men who own guns say that all or most of their friends also own guns. Being surrounded by like minded people creates a self-reinforcing environment, and gun culture is one where masculinity, gun ownership, and social inclusion are all intimately associated.

Another thing this group has in common is the perceived loss of power. In the global economy, there is more competition for jobs, especially among unskilled laborers, and historically marginalized groups are “taking” jobs seen by white, high-school educated males as a birthright. The Nation suggested that “The president [Trump] rode a wave of white male paranoia and perceived lost power to the White House; the GOP has stoked those emotions for 50 years.” Owning a gun helps reclaim masculinity for a man who has failed in his role as a provider and protector of his family. The social environment around gun culture is fueled by “white male entitlement, rage, and fear” and “the political and economic forces that exploit and encourage that fear” exacerbate it, as Time put it.

Traditional social ideas of masculinity can be very harmful in this environment. In the book Gun Violence and Public Life, Michael Kimmel and Cliff Leek note that "traditional notions of masculinity prevent men from seeking counseling or other forms of help they need, help which may prevent these mass shootings, but violence is also inculcated as a more masculine alternative than help seeking." If men didn’t receive messages like “boys don’t cry,” they would more often seek mental health care; as of now, the American Psychological Association says that men are less likely to do so than women. Because of this, issues such as depression, substance abuse and stress can bottle up emotions and lead to violent action. Mass shootings, therefore, are at least partially a product of the societal pressure for men to exhibit normatively masculine behavior.