A Phenomenological Study of the Influence of Masculinity on Peer Accountability in Fraternities

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Knight, S. (2024). A Phenomenological Study of the Influence of Masculinity on Peer Accountability in Fraternities. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the social construct of masculinity on the experiences fraternity members had with accountability. This study focused on the methods fraternities used to hold their members accountable, how the member’s behavior changes, and the impact masculinity had on accountability methods. This study is rooted in an understanding of the concept of masculinity and how it is often engrained deeply in the fraternity experience (Harris & Edwards, 2010; Harris & Harper, 2015). This study used document review to understand espoused expectations and accountability process. Additionally, four participants each from two different fraternity chapters participated in semi-structured interviews. This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the experience each member had with accountability in their fraternity. After multiple rounds of coding, five themes were created encompassing the experiences fraternity members had with accountability: formal accountability only a formality, herd mentality: informal expectations of the group, informal accountability is the real accountability, being a man prioritized, and culture and context set the tone. The study largely found that masculinity had a strong influence over the accountability experience in the chapter. Additionally, informal accountability was used daily to enforce several informal expectations. Formal accountability and formal expectations, however, did not take priority in fraternities. The expanded understanding of accountability can be used by fraternity members and their advisors to help empower men to mitigate high-risk behavior. Doing so will be critical to the continued presence of the fraternity experience.

Details
Author

Knight, Shawn

Title

A Phenomenological Study of the Influence of Masculinity on Peer Accountability in Fraternities

Physical Description

1 online resource (198 pages) : PDF

Date

2024

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the social construct of masculinity on the experiences fraternity members had with accountability. This study focused on the methods fraternities used to hold their members accountable, how the member’s behavior changes, and the impact masculinity had on accountability methods. This study is rooted in an understanding of the concept of masculinity and how it is often engrained deeply in the fraternity experience (Harris & Edwards, 2010; Harris & Harper, 2015). This study used document review to understand espoused expectations and accountability process. Additionally, four participants each from two different fraternity chapters participated in semi-structured interviews. This qualitative phenomenological study sought to understand the experience each member had with accountability in their fraternity. After multiple rounds of coding, five themes were created encompassing the experiences fraternity members had with accountability: formal accountability only a formality, herd mentality: informal expectations of the group, informal accountability is the real accountability, being a man prioritized, and culture and context set the tone. The study largely found that masculinity had a strong influence over the accountability experience in the chapter. Additionally, informal accountability was used daily to enforce several informal expectations. Formal accountability and formal expectations, however, did not take priority in fraternities. The expanded understanding of accountability can be used by fraternity members and their advisors to help empower men to mitigate high-risk behavior. Doing so will be critical to the continued presence of the fraternity experience.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Education, Higher
Education, Higher--Administration

Degree

D.Ed.

Subject Area

Educational Leadership

Advisor(s)

Miller, Ryan

Committee Members

Lorello, James
D'Amico, Mark
Putman, Michael

Degree Note

Thesis (D.Ed.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2024.

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This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Knight_uncc_0694D_13673

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:3550