Masculinity as social practice and cultural "becoming"

Using the technique of discourse analysis derived from phenomenologically-informed microsociological research, this paper examines the social construction of masculinity as gender performance where identity is a process of endless becoming. Two transcripts are analysed, both naturally occurring conversational events gathered as data in a secondary school classroom. While engaged in the process of devising a play together, the male and female students were also engaged in the constitution of themselves as gendered selves. In both examples here, the boys appear intent on sustaining images of hegemonic (heterosexual) masculinity as a paradigm of gender identity. This becoming of masculinity is revealed as both interpersonally constructed and textually constituted.