The author presents a survey of the social, cultural and theoretical issues concerning masculinity. He analyses the so-called 'crisis' of masculinity through a range of key topics, including: the new man, the new lad and 'men's movements': men, masculinity and violence: marginalized masculinities: black masculinity and gay male sexuality: queer theory, performativity and fashion: and cinema, representation and the body.
Bola exposes masculinity as a performance that men are socially conditioned into. Using examples of non-Western cultural traditions, music and sport, he shines light on historical narratives around manhood, debunking popular myths along the way. He explores how LGBTQ men, men of colour, and male refugees experience masculinity in diverse ways, revealing its fluidity, how it's strengthened and weakened by different political contexts, such as the patriarchy or the far-right, and perceived differently by those around them.
Introduction to key debates in the study of masculinity. Subjects include: male power: patriarchy: management and organisations: sexualities: gay friendships: sport: intimacy: identity: hegemonic masculinity: violence: schooling: language: homophobia: Black, Latino and Chicano masculinities: families: media: postmodernism: subjectivity.