Welcome to the series Behind the Mask of Masculinity!

Webster’s Dictionary defines masculinity as “having qualities appropriate to or usually associated with a man.”  This definition raises the questions: What are these qualities?  How are they created—nurture or nature? How do they affect men?  How do they affect women? How do they affect those who do not identify as a man or a woman? How do they affect a society and/or country—help or hinder its progress?  Overall, what is behind the mask of masculinity?

Masculinity is a broad concept in constant evolution. The women’s movement, the gay liberation movement, the fight against racism, social justice causes and the anti-globalization and environmental movements among other players have all impacted masculinity and so have each one of our contributors!

Each contributor through critical analysis, personal narratives, literature reviews or comparative studies has attempted to “de-mask” masculinity. What is behind the mask is different for every author.  As a reader you may agree, you may disagree or you may be neutral to what each author finds, but one thing is for sure you will discover, learn and be inspired!

Once more, a warm welcome!

Contents of Behind the Mask of Masculinity

Edited by Tanya Castle

Monday, May 30, 2011

The Mask of Natural (or Nurtered) Masculinity- Donald N.S. Unger

The Philosophical Nature of Masculinity – Jane Chelliah

‘Boys will be boys’: And other language that rigidifies our conceptions of masculinity – Eliane Luthi Poirier

Football, Masculinity and Violence in Brazil - Marco Túlio de Urzêda Freitas

Men Cling to Their Mask- A Man’s Narrative – Graham Phoenix

Challenging Masculinity – Todd Migliaccio

A pregnant man: What’s so wrong with that? – Milou van der Hoek

Masculine Feathers – Marcus Jackson

Tuesday, May  31, 2011

Masculinity is like pulled pork - Daniel Mack

Kurt Cobain and Masculinity - Cortney Alexander

The Significance of Guy Talk – Shohini Goldin Bhattacharya

Guyana’s Men’s Affairs Bureau missing the mark – CODE RED

Audre Lorde and Black Feminism: How to Heal Chris Brown – James Wordsdale

Chris Brown: A Middle School Crush, An Incident and a Feminist Critique – Linda Michelle Kokenge

Masculinity and my life – Marion Chapsal

Learning to say ‘I like you. Do you like me?’ – Andy Halloway

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