Representing Masculinity

Reviews / Votes

"This is a fascinating book. In the end one begins to more fully appreciate how the concept of modern citizens, from its roots in Western political culture to its currency around the world, seems to be tied almost inexorably to a gendered language of manhood. . . . And in the end one realizes that today we are confronted with the estrangement of the very concept of masculinity itself." - John A. Dick, INTAMS

"On the first glance an exploration of the maleness of political culture seems to be redundant, because the representation of politics as a male sphere seems to be self-evident. This volume demonstrates that a focus on masculinity can produce a multiplicity of fascinating and new perspectives on political culture, which makes the book to an exciting, inspiring and provocative reading. The editors are especially interested in the shaping and reshaping of concepts of citizenship by constructions of masculinity." - Brigitta Bader-Zaar, L'Homme

"This stunning collection takes the historical study of masculinities - of gender - to a new level. Ranging over two centuries and three continents, the essays demonstrate the power of Western concepts of masculinity while at the same time revealing their multiplicity and instability as well as the resistances they often encountered. By de-coupling masculinity from men, the authors succeed in 'provincializing' it, thus opening up rich possibilities for further investigation. Representing Masculinity will serve scholars of gender as an important theoretical as well as historiographical touchstone for decades to come." - Sonya Michel, University of Maryland, College Park

"In this volume gender history can be said to have completed a full circle: from its earlier beginnings as a history of women that critiqued the focus on the deeds of men in politics and war, through the history of the categories and discourses of gender and the more recent historiography of masculinity, back to the realm of politics, war and citizenship: enriched by the new perspectives of a generation of scholarship, these essays examine the variety of meanings and uses attached to masculinity in political discourse and practice. The contributions in this timely and valuable collection range widely across viewpoints, national contexts and disciplines; not least, including a welcome attention to visual representations." - Dror Wahrman, Indiana University