Abstract

Introduction: Much of the theory on masculinity studies highlights the so-called crisis of masculinity. This crisis refers to how social changes in the last decades have affected the perception of men regarding elements such as work, family, sexuality, life as a couple, among others, questioning, as a result, the hegemonic model. Objective: To inquire how these masculinity elements are fostered in a mining region of northern Chile. Method: Thirty interviews to mining and non-mining workers and their couples were applied in the cities of Calama and Antofagasta. Results: The reinforcement of roles such as providing parent and family leader even when the father is away from home doing mining shifts is observed among the most relevant findings. This means the position of authority is connected to the work system and the model of dominant gender in the culture. Among non-mining workers, the androcentric position of father and husband is the same even within the traditional working system. Conclusion: Androcentrism is present in both groups of men; it is also perceived in women’s testimonies. Nevertheless, a change in traditional practices and customs is perceived in younger generations. This might be interpreted as the beginning of a different path to new styles of masculinity.