Abstract: Masculinity refers to a personality trait which is opposite or parallel to femininity with a certain degree of plasticity. It is a construct internalized by individuals about what men should behave so as to be consistent with masculinity ideology, which maintains the consistency of self-concept and behavior. The forming process of masculinity depends on gender self-identitity, social identification and cultural identification. Stubbornly conforming to the masculine ideology norms in certain society will have positive or negative effect on male’s mental health. This paper systematically reviews the theoretical foundation, research perspectives (ideology, social construction and identity) as well as the related fields in the research of masculinity. Future studies should update the measurements and research methods, refine research fields and explore the cross-cultural masculinities from the point of diversifications.

Key words: masculinity, maculinity idology, gender role, gender role identity