The purpose of the current review is to present studies on masculinity, manhood, and masculine role stress under the main subtitles of gender stereotypes, attitudes, and discrimination from social psychological perspectives. First of all, from gender stereotype perspective, studies on masculinity and gender role stereotypes are presented. Secondly, masculine ideologies which have been examined at the attitudes and attitude measurement level, especially attitude scales measuring male role, masculine ideology or men are covered. Further, the scales about gender role stress are included. Then, precarious manhood theory, which tested manhood issues with experimental method, is explained. Thirdly, reflecting discrimination, destructive outputs of masculinity and manhood on men and others (such as women and gey) are presented. Lastly, studies, especially social psychological research, on masculinity and manhood conducted in Turkey are introduced, and some future suggestions are given. According to the studies, although descriptive masculine stereotypes serve cognitive functions, especially prescriptive and proscriptive stereotypes have some backlash effect for those who transgress them. Also, masculine norms and masculinity ideology which reflect the importance of status, antifemininity, toughness, non-emotionality, and achievement etc. create some individual and interpersonal problems. Men who feel that their masculinities are threatened may present risky, violent and aggressive behaviors towards themselves and others. All these studies show that the construction of masculinity/manhood may create some societal problems.
Key words: Masculinity, manhood, precarious manhood, gender role stress, stereotypes, attitudes.
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