The Construction of Masculinity in Science Fiction

Does the science fiction genre reinforce normative masculinity or create alternative, non-normative masculinities? How do science fiction fans understand the construction of masculinity within the genre? Although science fiction allows for the creation of fictional cultures and worlds, some fans assert that many science fiction works continue to reflect the culture of the creator. I collected interviews from fans of science fiction and, based on these interviews, analyzed selected episodes and movies. From an analysis of the selected media and the interviews, I explored the interaction between masculinity construction in the media and interviewees’ assessments of these forms of masculinity