Positive masculinities and complex thinking: A study of mexican university students

Abstract

This article presents the findings of a study conducted at a technological university in western Mexico, exploring the connection between students’ perceptions, adoption, and support of positive masculinity expressions and their perceived attainment of complex thinking competency. The premise is that individuals with advanced complex thinking skills possess a more comprehensive understanding of people’s capabilities beyond gender roles, critically questioning stereotypes associated with manhood. Using R and RStudio for data analysis, the study employed descriptive statistics, calculating means and standard deviations. Violin plots and scatter plots with linear model trend lines were generated with 95 percent reliability. The results indicated a significant correlation between the perception of complex thinking competency achievement and positive masculinity perception. This suggests that developing complex thinking skills is relevant to adopting, perceiving, or endorsing expressions, attitudes, and constructs related to positive masculinities. The article contributes to the discourse on gender equity and gaps in Latin America, offering an innovative perspective on understanding elements linked to violent behaviors or those fostering equality. The study’s uniqueness lies in its exploration of the relationship between a primarily formative competence, complex thinking, and the construction of masculinity perception—a gap in existing research. This justifies the study not only theoretically but also due to its potential practical implications for the lifelong learning process of future generations.