In this paper, we take an interest in emergent masculinities in contemporary academic workplaces and the consequences of new forms of homosocial cultures. We employ the theoretical notion of Masculine Contest Cultures (MCC) (cf Berdahl et al, 2018) in order to link constructions of masculinity to the heterosocial behaviour of women as well as their consequences for workplace cultures. This is studied in two Swedish social science departments currently undergoing changes in their workplace cultures related to an increased emphasis on managerial control, performance measurement and internal as well as external competition. 

The two cases are discussed in terms of harmonic and competitive homosociality, and homogenous and fragmented heterosociality. We (tentatively) suggest that neoliberalisation of Academia tend to disrupt cultural contexts in which traditional hegemonic masculinities are upheld through a combination of harmonic homosociality and homogenous heterosociality. This happens in several ways; (1) through the atomization of homosocial community induced by performance management regimes emphasizing status as individually assessed and transitory, (2) through an organisational managerialisation shifting professional leeway from senior male professors to a more junior and gender-equal cadre of 1 managers, (3) through women becoming more fragmented in their views on their heterosocial roles and on their responsibility for upholding workplace relationalities. The ensuing emergent masculinities tend to center around competition and comparison, and on new and subtler ways of performing manhood acts in pursuit of power and status.