The Hegemonic Masculinity In Sally Rooney’s Mr. Salary

Abstract

The practice of utilizing e-commerece for shopping has become a prevalent habit within Indonesian society. The This study examines the construction of masculine hegemony and power relations in Sally Rooney's short fiction Mr. Salary. Using Raewyn Connell's ideas about masculine hegemony, this research investigates how the main characters, Nathan and Sukie, portray gender power through their interpersonal interactions. Employing a qualitative methodology and close reading approach, this analysis investigates forms of internal and external hegemony to demonstrate how emotional control, economic dependence, and symbolic domination are maintained through seemingly intimate and affectionate interactions. The findings show that Nathan's masculinity aligns with dominant cultural values, positioning him as superior in age, status, and emotional authority, while Sukie portrays herself as emotionally vulnerable and financially dependent. Furthermore, this study argues that Rooney's narrative subtly challenges this gender power imbalance by framing it within the broader post-recession Irish socio-cultural context and the rise of gender awareness during the #MeToo era. This thesis contributes to gender studies in literature by offering a critical analysis of how masculine hegemony functions beneath the surface of modern relationships in contemporary fiction like Mr. Salary.