ABSTRACT
One way to think about masculinity is to understand masculinity as a combination of ascribed and achieved characteristics. “Ascribed” refers to the qualities that one is born with, and “achieved” refers to their behaviors and practices. Much of the field of masculinity scholarship was, perhaps rightfully, forged in a critical lens of how men contribute to the oppression of women. But a true critical study of masculinities is one that must also move beyond descriptions of male advantage alone. The sociological study of masculinities differs from earlier feminist concerns men because it holds men as the principal focus of analysis, explicitly recognizing them to be gendered beings. Ascribed features would include things such as muscle mass, facial hair, vocal tone, or other attributes associated with masculinity. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
