IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS) Volume 23, Issue 9, Ver. 2 (September. 2018) 22-28 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0837-2309022228 www.iosrjournals.org 22 | Page Masculinity, Male Aggression and Alcohol use: Case Studies of Perpetrators of Domestic Violence 1 Sooraj P. S, 2 Dr. Moly Kuruvilla 1 Research Scholar, Department of Women‟s Studies, University of Calicut, Kerala, India 2 Professor, Department of Women‟s Studies, University of Calicut, Kerala, India Corresponding Author:Sooraj P.S Abstract: Considerable proportions of married women in India experience violence from their male partners. Gender theorists have underscored the role of masculine norms in contributing to alcohol intoxication and violence towards female partners. Though there exist a number of studies on gender based violence in general and domestic violence in particular, not many studies have focused solely on the men’s account of the violence. This study attempts to examine the gender construction ebedded in the selves of male perpetrators of domestic violence. The study includes case studies of 15 (Fifteen) heterosexual, married men hailing from Malappuram District, Kerala who were selected purposively. A qualitative methodology was used for the study. It was found that these men presented themselves as rational, effective and ideal models of what men ought to be. They perceived violence as a means to reproduce their gender and thereby projected their violence as an ‘effective’ mechanism to maintain ‘order’ in family. They claimed that women were actually responsible for the violence and trivialized the impacts of alcohol-related violence on women’s lives. Keywords: Domestic Violence, Masculinity, Alcoholism --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 31-08-2018 Date of acceptance: 15-09-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. INTRODUCTION Alcoholism accounts for a significant disease burden and has remained a public health menace for several centuries. Men are the major consumers of alcohol in almost all societies and often, they are encouraged or expected to drink heavily. Studies around the globe have found that alcohol use, creation of a masculine identity and domestic violence have strong and intricate associations with each other. (Dobash&Dobash,1979).Women in India are particularly prone to experience violence within households due to the patriarchal nature of its society. A sizeable proportion of married women in India are reported to experience severe violence from their partners. The deprivation of access to economic and educational resources increases the vulnerability of Indian women furthermore(Santhya et al. 2007). The Indian experience of domestic violence has its roots in the male dominated socio-economic, political and legal order that condones and reinforces it. The cultural and social norms embedded in the Indian society augments the construction of a violent masculinity, reinforces patriarchal values, perpetuate gender inequality and condones violence against women. (Panda,2004). Understanding Masculinity Violence against women, particularly in the domestic sphere, has significant associations with the conception of masculinity. Masculinities are complex and multifaceted, and the construction of masculinity varies across different cultures. The idea of what it means to be a man and a woman is inculcated in a very young age in all the cultures across the globe. The ‘gender norms’ are spawned, bred and inculcated to every child by various societal institutions. (ICRW,2005) The roles, attributes and behaviours assigned to the binaries of gender acts as the substratum for the construction of masculinity. The socialization received at a young age remains so deep rooted in the conscience of individuals that the subordination of women is naturally condoned. Violence against women therefore becomes justifiable and the public-private divide is naturalized (Anderson&Umberson, 2001) For attempting to understand masculinities – and how it relates to Violence, it may be found that Raewyn Connell’s notion of various forms of masculinities – particularly ‘Hegemonic Masculinities’ as particularly appropriate. Connell argues that masculinities are socialized, dynamic and influenced by social