Men And Masculinities: Key Themes And New Directions

Men and Masculinities is one of the most comprehensive texts ever published on the sociology of masculinity. Wide-ranging and accessible, it considers all the key themes, concepts and writings informing this increasingly important area of study.

Starting with discussion of the nature/nurture debate, Freudian and Jungian perspectives, and first-wave writings on men and masculinity, Men and Masculinities explores the work of key feminist and profeminist theorists such as Bob Connell, Jeff Hearn, Michael Kimmel, Michael Messner, Peter Nardi and Lynne Segal. In charting trends and new directions in the critical study of men, the book highlights the growing influence of postmodern and poststructuralist perspectives, particularly those of Judith Butler, Gilles Deleuze, Michel Foucault and Jacques Lacan. Further unique featuresinclude a detailed critique of hegemonic masculinity; an elaboration of masculinity as discourse; and an introduction to the concept of the masculine subject.

In the course of its development over recent decades, the sociology of masculinity has expanded to cover most aspects of social and cultural enquiry. In response to this, Men and Masculinities broaches a diverse range of issues, including masculinity and materiality, masculinity in crisis, sexuality, male power, identity, the politics of masculinity, and the male role in management, relationships and families. It details key writings on masculinity while also signalling emerging areas of research into men at the beginning of the new millennium, such as age, leisure and gay male friendships. It will be an invaluable resource across a number of disciplines, including sociology, gender studies, cultural studies, psychology and anthropology.

Introduction..

1. Masculinity – Illusion or Reality?.

Men's Nature, Men's History.

Natural Men?.

Masculinities in History.

Functionalism and the Male Sex Role.

Gender and Functionalism.

Perspectives on Sex/Gender Roles.

Psychoanalytical Perspectives.

Freud.

Jung.

From 1st to 2nd Wave (Pro)Feminism.

Multiplicity, Materiality – and Illusion.

Multiple Masculinities.

The Materiality of Men's Violences.

Material Actualities – a global perspective.

Conclusion.

2. The Personal and the Political: Men and Feminism.

A Crisis of Masculinity or a Moral Panic?.

A Discourse of Crisis.

The Crisis Discourse in Politics and Public Policy.

The Male Crisis in Perspective.

Men as a Political Category.

The Discursive Connection.

Men's Responses to Feminism.

Marking Differences.

Political Polarisations.

Black and Latino Men, Black and Latino Masculinities.

Gay Male Liberation and Queer Theory.

Concluding on Changing Men (and Women)..

3. Power and Resistance.

Structural Models of Gender Power.

Juridico-Discursive Theories.

Patriarchy.

Hegemonic Masculinity.

Gender Order.

Masculinism.

Power as Discursive.

Bringing Back the Resisting Subject.

A Foucauldian Analysis.

The Discursive Subject of Power.

Summary.

4. Public Men.

He's Leaving Home: The heroic male project.

Myths and Icons.

An Heroic Male Project – building empires.

Work, Management and the Professional.

Men at Work.

Men as Managers.

Masculinity and Professionalism.

Time to Play.

Gendered Time.

Gendered Leisure..

Summary.

5. Private Men.

The Private ‘I'.

Fathers and Families.

Friendships and Relationships.

Men's Relationships.

Men's Friendships.

Pure Relationships.

Sexualities.

Trust, Intimacy and Emotion.

Trust.

Intimacy.

Emotions and Feelings.

Endings and Openings.

6. Marking Male Bodies.

Male Bodies.

Male Bodies in Process.

Throwing Like a Boy.

Materialising Male Bodies.

Gazing at the Male Body.

Race Man.

A Gay Body of Men.

Ageing Male Bodies.

Summary.

7. Desires of The Masculine Subject.

The Masculine Subject.

Masculine Ontology.

Desire To Be (a man).

Implications and Conclusion.

Notes.

Bibliography.

Index.