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<p>This paper explores how L. Frank Baum’s <i>Oz</i> books critique conventional notions of manhood and portray a diverse spectrum of masculinities, building on the argument that <i>The Wonderful Wizard of Oz</i> (1900) traces a journey of male characters’ self-discovery (Yoshida, 2003). The analysis reveals that the series rejects a singular, hegemonic model of masculinity in favor of multiple expressions, each negotiating its own challenges and resolutions. Figures embodying hegemonic masculinity—defined by Raewyn Connell as grounded in dominance and privilege (Connell, 2020/1995)—such as the Wizard and the Nome King, are subject to ridicule and exposed as fundamentally flawed. In contrast, characters aligned with Ozma and Dorothy—most notably the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion—represent masculinities historically marginalized within conventional systems but embraced in the Land of Oz. Their performances, marked by emotional openness, care, non-heteronormativity, anti-machismo, and fellowship, thrive within relational dynamics rooted in empathy and mutual support. Through these portrayals, Baum offers inclusive and relational models of masculinity that resist dominant ideals of strength and autonomy. By affirming such qualities as valid and valuable, the <i>Oz</i> books reimagine masculinity as plural, affective, and cooperative. Ultimately, the Land of Oz emerges as a sanctuary for diverse masculinities , nurtured and protected by Glinda, Ozma, and Dorothy.</p>

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Plural Masculinities in L. Frank Baum’s Oz Books: Subverting Hegemony, Celebrating Diversity

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月31日

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  • Hiroe Suzuki

摘要

This paper explores how L. Frank Baum’s Oz books critique conventional notions of manhood and portray a diverse spectrum of masculinities, building on the argument that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) traces a journey of male characters’ self-discovery (Yoshida, 2003). The analysis reveals that the series rejects a singular, hegemonic model of masculinity in favor of multiple expressions, each negotiating its own challenges and resolutions. Figures embodying hegemonic masculinity—defined by Raewyn Connell as grounded in dominance and privilege (Connell, 2020/1995)—such as the Wizard and the Nome King, are subject to ridicule and exposed as fundamentally flawed. In contrast, characters aligned with Ozma and Dorothy—most notably the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion—represent masculinities historically marginalized within conventional systems but embraced in the Land of Oz. Their performances, marked by emotional openness, care, non-heteronormativity, anti-machismo, and fellowship, thrive within relational dynamics rooted in empathy and mutual support. Through these portrayals, Baum offers inclusive and relational models of masculinity that resist dominant ideals of strength and autonomy. By affirming such qualities as valid and valuable, the Oz books reimagine masculinity as plural, affective, and cooperative. Ultimately, the Land of Oz emerges as a sanctuary for diverse masculinities , nurtured and protected by Glinda, Ozma, and Dorothy.