Is Masculinity Toxic?: A primer for the 21st century: 7 (The Big Idea) - Softcover

Andrew Smiler

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0500295026 ISBN 13: 9780500295021

Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd, 2019

Synopsis

A timely exploration of the exceptional power and intrinsic vulnerability of manhood

In the wake of the #MeToo movement and the upsurge in feminist and men’s rights activism, traditional masculinity has become a topic of impassioned debate. But what exactly do we mean by ‘masculinity’ and in what ways can it be said to be harmful? This incisive volume evaluates modern masculinity’s capacity for good against its potential for destruction. It reviews evolving definitions of masculinity since the age of chivalry and examines our current expectations about men’s behaviours, roles and responsibilities. It reveals societal pressure on men to act aggressively, suppress emotion and be in control, and the impact of being a ‘real man’ on self and others.

Table of Contents

Introduction - Evolving Understandings of Masculinity - Masculine Power to Harm - Men and Interpersonal Relationships - The Changing Face of Masculinity Today - Conclusion

About this title

About the Authors

Andrew Smiler (PhD) has served as president of the Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinities and MaleSurvivor.org, and is currently the editor of Online Publications for the Society for Research in Adolescence. Dr Smiler is co-author, with Chris Kilmartin, of the bestselling introduction to men’s studies textbook The Masculine Self.

Matthew Taylor is Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation. Prior to that he was for 15 years Chief Executive of the RSA, a 250-year-old British institution devoted to enriching society through ideas and action to deliver a 21st-century enlightenment. A writer, public speaker and broadcaster, he has written numerous articles on policy, politics, public service reform and cultural theory, and frequently appears on Newsnight, The Daily Politics, and Radio 4’s Today and The Moral Maze. He was previously General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Institute for Public Policy Research, Britain’s leading think tank.

From the Back Cover

In the wake of the MeToo movement and the upsurge in both feminist and men's rights activism, traditional masculinity has become the topic of impassioned debate. Is Masculinity Toxic? interrogates the myths surrounding modern manhood, asking whether--and how--we need to change our attitudes toward masculinity in the twenty-first century. Therapist Andrew Smiler addresses the topic of masculinity in four chapters: "Evolving Understandings of Masculinity," which examines the history of ideas about masculinity, "Male Power to Harm," which dissects the societal impacts of "toxic" masculinity, including bullying behavior, rape culture, and early male mortality; "Men and Interpersonal Relationships," discusses how men are encouraged not to express their feelings, the sexual objectification of women, and male attitudes toward fatherhood; and "Changing Face of Masculinity Today," which details the ways in which masculinity might adapt to the last century's sweeping changes in gender roles. Is Masculinity Toxic? revisits all sides of the debate, recognizing the positive impact of some of today's models of masculinity while acknowledging the failures and limitations of others.

Edition details

• Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0500295026
• ISBN 13: 9780500295021
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144
• Editor: Matthew Taylor