Conflicting Masculinities in Christianity: Experiences and Critical Reflections on Gender and Religion

The article discusses the challenges arising from an essentialist approach to masculinity as a stable category with a set of given, unchangeable characteristics developed in contrast to femininity. Such a hegemonic view is a stumbling block in the development of more diverse and inclusive environments, to which the Catholic Church contributes by its defense of “traditional” family, the ideal of clerical men or the discrimination of queer living. The text argues for recognition and normalization of diversity, instead of a continuous reproduction of toxic ideals of masculinity. In this sense, conflicting masculinities in church and theology could be a perspective of hope for transformation: Hegemonic masculinity no longer goes unchallenged, not even in Catholic Church.