Masculinities in Theory: An Introduction

Masculinities in Theory aims to provide a response to the important and complicated question: “What is masculinity and how does it work?” The volume is intended to serve as a clear, concise, and comprehensive introduction to the field of masculinity studies from a humanities perspective.

This user-friendly text, designed with the beginning student in mind, will include discussions of the following issues central to any discussion of masculinity: the place of gay/queer, feminist, and gender studies in relation to masculinity; gender performativity, “habitus,” and abjection; how the work of theorists like Butler, Bourdieu can be placed in direct dialogue with masculinity; selected categories of analysis commonly used in the study of masculinities, including castration anxiety, the male body, and cross-dressing; key concepts relating to racialized masculinities, colonizer/colonized relations, interracial homosociality, and racial castration.

A series of bibliographical essays at the conclusion of Masculinities in Theory will help guide readers interested in expanding their understanding of the concepts presented to primary and secondary texts on or around masculinity.