**1. Introduction**

The 21st century is celebrated as the potential era of a new gender order, an ideal moment to subvert prejudices and social inequalities: male chauvinism, misogyny, classism, racism, and homophobia. In this historic moment, dismantling the model of traditional or hegemonic masculinity1 , questioning the supposed masculine norm, is presented as an urgent undertaking in our society. However, this era of feminist awakening too finds aggressive resistance and reactionary attacks coming from those who feel themselves threatened by such claims, complaints, and charges. Men have been called to evaluate themselves, to reflect on their customs, their emotions, their relationship with women, and that for many can be uncomfortable and ultimately a waste of time.

<sup>1</sup> Hegemonic Masculinity can be defined as "the configuration of gender practices which embodies the currently accepted answer to the problem of the legitimacy of the patriarchy, which guarantees (or is taken to guarantee) the dominant position of men and the subordination of women" ([1], p. 39).

It is evident that many men have interpreted the call for equality and the questioning of their privilege as a provocation, as a loss of power and "manhood". Stopping to reflect on the forms of masculinity carries with it great benefits for men, but also carries all the risks associated with removing something external that has become a part of one's being [2]. As far back as three decades ago talk of the possibility of constructing new masculinities began. In light of this, means of communication, literature, and movements by men searching to recover the "essence of masculinity" all produced ideas of what this "new man" might resemble.

Faced with the idea of renewed masculinity, today we ask ourselves if there exists an authentic change in masculinities or if at their core, they remain unaltered. What are "new masculinities"? Are they truly less chauvinistic? Less homophobic? Egalitarian? Less violent? This idea of the appearance of "new masculinities" has been exploited in recent years to designate a series of discourses, representations, behaviors, habits, and attitudes adopted by men that are proclaimed to be "new", healthier, alternative, egalitarian, responsible, empathetic, positive, that supposedly run counter to traditional or toxic masculinity violent and chauvinistic masculinity based upon gender inequality. In this manner, the term has been widely applauded and commercialized in Latin America, by means of the ideal of the "new metrosexual man" [3] and by the literature around new forms of "being a man" [4].

Theoretically, this new masculinity being spread promises a change that paints and image of a healthier man, more emotional, affectionate, sensible, not competitive, not homophobic, nonviolent, without addictions, responsible and respectful. A man who takes part in domestic work and caring for children, that is, a kind of masculinity that reconciles the tension between public and domestic life, between work life and family life. Additionally, new masculinity assumes the recognition of different forms of being a man, and of diverse sexual orientations. In short, does this concept lead us to an essentially deceptive or hopeful idea that male chauvinism and the patriarchy are being left behind as things of the past?

On this point I consider it important to stop and analyze what lies behind this so-called "new" masculinity, that which is hidden, that which remains, that which is untouched and continues reproducing itself. The idea of the emergence of "new masculinity" has accommodated discussions about change or deconstruction experienced by the various forms of masculinity as well as important advances for "gender parity"2 that wish to depict a harmonic and uplifting scene. However, the first thing we must ask ourselves in regards to this is whether "new masculinity" looks beyond individual shifts or deconstructions and transcends to the collective and political spheres with actions that threaten hegemonic masculinity, the fraternal pact between men and the structures of the patriarchy.
