ABSTRACT

What does it mean to be male in today’s world?

This volume interrogates the myriad practices and myth-making that underlie dominant and subordinate constructions of masculinities around the world. Challenging the patriarchal bias that restricts alternative understanding of masculinities, this volume documents and shares evidence, insights and direction on how men and boys can creatively contribute to gender equality in the twenty-first century.

The book:

  • highlights the many lives of men and their interactions with socioeconomic and political processes, including the family, fatherhood, migration, development and violence;

  • critiques hegemonic masculinities, and grapples with effective practices that engage men in the empowerment of women;

  • explores how cultures of masculinity can be transformed to promote social justice, conflict-resolution and peace-building within and across nations

The book will be indispensable to researchers interested in critical masculinity studies, women’s studies, sociology, social anthropology, law, public policy, political science and international relations. It will also be of great relevance to government officials, NGO activists, and other practitioners concerned with gender, health and development issues.

chapter |9 pages

Introduction

Engaging global masculinities

chapter 1|13 pages

Making men

The cultural politics of male initiation rites in South Africa

chapter 2|22 pages

Social norms, social structure and law in Nepal

Patriarchy, violence against women and the three-headed hydra 1

chapter 4|17 pages

Masculinity and violence against women

Exploring the practices of young men in Bangladesh

chapter 5|17 pages

Beyond male role models

Gender identities and work with young men in the UK

chapter 8|8 pages

Engaging men in ending men’s violence against women

Beyond the mantras and towards more effective practice

chapter 9|20 pages

Involving men in sharing the contraceptive burden

Experiences from a community intervention with men in Madhya Pradesh, India

chapter 12|17 pages

Migrating males and gender role exchange

A study on how Indonesian males perceive their masculinities through caregiving activities 1