Beyond the Privilege: An Analysis of In-Group Exclusion Among Men and Its Impact on Corporate Diversity Initiatives

This thesis investigates the social construction of male gender identity and its implications for corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which have historically focused on marginalized groups while leaving dominant group norms unexamined. The research is spurred by a key empirical finding from an initial survey (N=195): while a majority of women (57.5%) spontaneously identify gender as a core part of their identity, only 26.9% of men do so. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was employed to explore this asymmetry. The initial quantitative phase confirmed that for women, high gender salience correlates with a significantly higher perceived risk of discrimination (p=0.048), framing their identity as a site of systemic disadvantage. For men, no such correlation was found, supporting the interpretation of masculinity as an invisible 'societal default'. The subsequent qualitative phase, involving in-depth interviews with 15 men, explored the underlying reasons for these findings. The analysis reveals that male identity is meticulously constructed through socialization by family, peer groups, and the media. The thesis uses the 'man box' metaphor as a theoretical framework to explain the central paradox of men's low conscious gender identification coupled with high behavioral conformity. This 'box' operates as a system of social control maintained by in-group policing (e.g., ridicule, exclusion) that punishes non-conformity. It simultaneously confers the 'patriarchal dividend' (collective benefits from a patriarchal system) while imposing severe 'costs of masculinity,' such as emotional repression and poorer mental health outcomes. The findings indicate an urgent need to strategically reframe DEI from a 'zero-sum game' into a cultural project that liberates all employees from rigid gender roles. To effectively engage men as allies, organizations must explicitly address the 'costs of masculinity.' Practical recommendations include implementing equal parental leave as a keystone policy, providing targeted mental health support, and expanding harassment policies to address male-on-male in-group policing.