Masculinity in the twenty-first century (original) (raw)
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Understanding Men and Masculinity in Modern Society
SCIKNOW publications, 2013
Research and critical studies into men and masculinity has originated as one of the most emerging areas of sociological investigation. More books and articles have been published on this study area alone as well as the introduction of two specialized journals and the creation of several websites all providing different explanations of their understanding of men and masculinity at the millennium age. Masculinity is an area of sociology that has, since the mid-1950s, drawn on many theories, including structural functionalism, Marxism, psychoanalysis, critical structuralism, and more recently, post-structuralism and theories of the post-modern (Whitehead & Barrett, 2001). Within popular culture, the media have also come across the perceived 'crisis of masculinity' in Western cultures – newspapers, documentaries and talk shows have increasingly pondered the changing meaning of manhood in our modern age (Alsop et al, 2002). The purpose of this writing is to understand men and masculinity in the modern world putting into consideration the sociology of masculinity, the social construction of masculinity, the crisis within masculinity as well as a fair contrast with masculinity and feminism.
Introduction: Celebrating Twenty Years of Scholarship in Men and Masculinities
The Journal of Men's Studies, 2013
This issue of The Journal of Men's Studies has as guest co-editors two members of the American Men's Studies Association's (AMSA) Board of Directors. As co-chairs of the Publications Committee of AMSA, we solicited, oversaw the double-blind, peer-review process and ultimately, chose the six manuscripts published here. These articles span a wide range of topics and views related to the study of men and masculinities. They originated as papers selected for presentation at the 2012 annual AMSA Conference. The theme of the conference was "Celebrating Twenty Years of Scholarship in Men and Masculinities." As we reflected on the past twenty years, we noticed an expansion of the men's studies fieldincluding a greater number of women scholars and diverse populations, embracing the basic tenets of feminism, and movement towards including more theoretical, clinical, and practical areas and disciplines that diverge from an early emphasis on only the social sciences.
Men and Masculinities, 2019
In this article we begin to map the field of Men and Masculinities Studies by examining 20 years of publications in the journal of Men and Masculinities. We conduct a content analysis of 458 articles and 2115 keywords from 1998 to 2017. Our findings indicate similar numbers of women and men published sole-authored articles. The most prevalent themes among published articles were related to theory, sexualities, and family. Furthermore, non-English speaking regions in the world are underrepresented compared to English speaking regions. We hope that our discussion of these, and other findings, will help (re)shape the field and the journal of Men and Masculinities into a more diverse and inclusive academic space.
Editorial: The Future of Men - Men, Masculinities and Gender Equality
Analize - Journal of Gender and Feminist Studies, 2019
The past decades have witnessed a paradigm shift towards a recognition not only of men as gendered beings, but also of a plurality of masculinities. The new interdisciplinary field of men's studies puts the particular instead of the universal male subject into focus. It conceives of masculinity as an intersectional category interlocked with other categories, such as race, ethnicity, class, age or sexuality. At the same time, there has been a growing recognition that gender equality cannot be achieved without men and boys. Gender inequalities are embedded in a multidimensional structure of relationships between women and men that operated at every level of the human experience-from economic arrangements, culture and the state to interpersonal relationships and individual emotions. Moving towards a gender-equal society involves profound institutional change as well as change in everyday life and individual behavior. Making progress towards this goal requires widespread support, including significant support from men and boys. This, in turn, requires further research and evidence about the changing social construction of masculinities. This special issue of Analize looks at some of the recent trends in both the academic fields of masculinities, gender, and gender equality studies, and recent developments in (popular) culture and societies, including how men are increasingly being engaged in realizing gender equality. Gender norms and conceptions of masculinity, and what it means to be a man, are shifting.
Articles review on masculinities
The collected readings delve into the complexities of masculinity, examining it as a socially constructed identity influenced by various internal and external factors. Raewyn Connell's works focus on masculinity as shaped within the gender system itself, extending beyond mere male-female interactions to include diverse relationships among men, which she categorizes into hegemonic, hybrid, and marginalized types. Connell and other scholars like Demetriou and Hearn critique traditional views of hegemonic masculinity and advocate for understanding gender as a dynamic and continually produced social practice. The themes expand into discussions on how men's relationships, through frameworks like heteronormativity and socio-cultural practices like 'girl watching' and homosocial bonding, perpetuate gender norms and inequalities. These interactions often reinforce male dominance and marginalize women, suggesting that true gender equality requires restructuring societal norms and including men actively in feminist efforts. The collection highlights the ongoing negotiation of gender identities, emphasizing the need for a broader and more inclusive understanding of masculinity's role in societal structures.
Troublesome Masculinities: Masculinity in Trouble
IDS Bulletin, 2009
An extraordinary growth in research and programming on masculinities continues to explore the ways in which to challenge male authority by redefining male identity. Given the long-standing and deeply entrenched patriarchal ideology that equates male identity with men's authority over women, this tension would appear to be a significant obstacle facing the momentum for change towards gender equality and men's part in it.
Toward a new sociology of masculinity
Theory and Society, 1985
The upheaval in sexual politics of the last twenty years has mainly been discussed as a change in the social position of women. Yet change in one term of a relationship signals change in the other. From very early in the history of Women's Liberation it was clear that its politics had radical implications for men. A small "Men's Liberation" movement developed in the 1970s among heterosexual men. Gay men became politicized as the new feminism was developing, and Gay Liberation politics have continued to call in question the conventional understanding of what it is to be a man. Academic sex-role research, though mainly about women in the family, was easily extended to the "male role." From several different directions in the 1970s, critiques and analyses of masculinity appeared. Quite strong claims about the emergence of a new area of study, and a new departure in sexual politics, were made. The purpose of this article is to bring together these attempts, evaluate them, and propose an alternative.