Abstract
Men and Masculinity: The Basics is an introduction to the studies of men and masculinities and explores how men are “made” through various discourses and contexts. The book is written through a poststructuralist lens and seeks to address theories that view masculinity as being in a flexible state, explaining contradictory accounts of masculinity through social construction. Because this book is a contribution to Routledge’s “The Basics” series, it is written for those approaching men and masculinity studies for the first time. Throughout the book, Edley successfully argues for the disruption and resettlement of masculinities constructed through discourse.
Part 1 is comprised of the chapters “Man-watching” and “Coming to terms with men and masculinity.” “Man-watching” begins with anecdotes, giving the reader an opportunity to reflect on how we view men and masculinity in everyday scenarios. Edley briefly covers the development of gender studies, providing context for those new to the field. The argument that masculinity is in a state of flux and crisis is also introduced.
“Coming to terms with men and masculinity” attempts to define the substance of masculinity while explaining that much of the academic literature about the subject defies common sense. Here, Edley introduces another key point: masculinity is as much an impression from outside as an expression from within. Edley successfully supports the idea of masculinity as a discursive construction by refuting ideas brought forward by evolutionary science, psychoanalytic theory, and sex-role theory, concluding that the practices of masculinity are not the source of masculinity; rather, they are themselves masculinity.
Part 2 is comprised of more subject-specific chapters, focusing on debates surrounding each topic. The idea of masculinity as an unstable entity is woven through each chapter. For example, “The male body” explores the cultural significance of the male body while also challenging the idea that masculinity is an expression of the body. Edley explains these changing discourses in terms of historical trends. Similarly, “Men and work” examines changing economic circumstances in which men are no longer the sole providers for families and the consequences of this shift.
Just as going to work to provide for your family is closely tied to what it is to be a man, it is also at the core of fatherhood. “Men and fatherhood” explores the conflict between working to provide for your children and helping to raise them. Edley explores how the ways that men conduct themselves in relation to their children is both a cause and a symptom of the crisis of masculinity.
“Male sexuality” discusses the conflict of triumph and embarrassment after losing one’s virginity, the heteronormative drive of the male libido, and alternative views of male sexuality. Edley explains that we can make sense of these opposing accounts by stating there is no single truth of male sexuality. Rather, the ways men feel about sex are the consequences of the way it is storied. In a similar way, many think violence is hardwired into men’s brains. But in “Male violence,” Edley shows how the idea of men being the most violent sex is a social construction. For example, in the context of war, Edley argues that masculinity is actually a consequence of war and the culture that champions warrior values.
As much as Edley’s style is academic, the book is clear and digestible. With anecdotes, appropriate use of humor throughout, and more, Edley’s book is supremely accessible. He also includes glossary, suggestions for further reading with brief synopses of each recommended text, and the use of current affairs to make the book relatable to nonacademics. Furthermore, each viewpoint is developed through the use of abundant examples from classic academic research to new and cutting-edge work.
I was surprised to find only a few concluding remarks at the end of the final chapter rather than a more lengthy or dedicated conclusion tying the plentiful themes in the book together. However, the final chapter’s conclusion does have a summary that encapsulates the perspective Edley pursues throughout:
I would argue that masculinity is what men do. But they don’t rape and kill—as well as work and love—because they are men; the logic runs in the opposite direction. They do these things in order to count as men, both in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. (p. 154)
Men and Masculinity: The Basics is an important new primer to the field, suitable for both academics and nonacademics. Because the book is written against the backdrop of post-structuralism, it challenges common sense notions of what it is to be a man. Edley’s frequent emphasis on the fluctuation of gendered discourses successfully demonstrates how masculinity is at the mercy of discourse.