Final answer:
The concept of masculinity operates on many levels and is influenced by a myriad of factors such as cultural norms, economic conditions, personal relationships, and social changes. It is not fixed but is constantly evolving and is constructed in opposition to femininity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of masculinity operates on many levels. Contemporary research suggests that masculinity is not a fixed attribute but a complex and multifaceted construct that is constantly being shaped and reshaped by various factors. These include cultural norms, economic conditions, personal relationships, and individual actions. As evidenced by anthropologists like Daniel Jordan Smith, who studied masculinity in the Igbo communities of southeast Nigeria, the performance of masculinity is a lifelong process with different challenges and expectations at different stages of life. Furthermore, masculinity is recognized as being constructed in opposition to femininity, even in the absence of females, underscoring the relational aspect of gender identities. Historical shifts in attitudes, such as the twentieth-century 'cult of masculinity' in America, demonstrate how concepts of masculinity evolve over time and are influenced by social changes such as shifting attitudes towards military service and physical fitness.