UI Press | Edited by Ronald L. Jackson II and Murali Balaji

Global Masculinities and Manhood

What makes a man, within his own culture

Bringing together an array of interdisciplinary voices, Global Masculinities and Manhood examines the concept of masculinity from the perspectives of cultures around the world. In the era of globalization, masculinity continues to be studied in a Western-centric context. Contributors to this volume, however, deconstruct the history and politics of masculinities within the contexts of the cultures from which they have been developed, examining what makes a man who he is within his own culture.

Highlighting manifestations of masculinity in countries including Jamaica, Turkey, Peru, Kenya, Australia, and China, scholars from a variety of disciplines grapple with the complex politics of identity and the question of how gender is interpreted and practiced through discourse. The anthology follows three major themes: defining masculinity in the global sphere, mediated representations of masculinity, and the cultural practice of masculinity as both a local and a worldwide phenomenon. Contributors discuss how masculinity is affected by war and conflict, defined in relation to race, ethnicity, and sexuality, and expressed in cultural activities such as sports or the cinema.

Contributors are Bryant Keith Alexander, Molefi K. Asante, Murali Balaji, Maurice Hall, Ronald L. Jackson II, Shino Konishi, Nil Mutluer, Mich Nyawalo, Kathleen Glenister Roberts, Margarita Saona, and Kath Woodward.

"A fine collection of original essays, each of which illustrates how dominant conceptualization of masculinity can inform and/or harm the everyday lives of particular populations. . . . Recommended."--Choice

"This stimulating collection provides a succinct and consolidated examination of global cultures of masculinity and the basis for future comparative research and teaching in this area. A solid complement to the existing and growing literature in the field of masculinity studies."--Corey D. B. Walker, author of A Noble Fight: African American Freemasonry and the Struggle for Democracy in America

"This accessible collection interrogates the cultural constructions of masculinity across a wide range of cultures. Focusing on cultures that are typically overlooked in discussions on masculinity, the contributors raise important issues and highlight the many tensions that create and construct masculinities worldwide."--Thomas K. Nakayama, coeditor of The Handbook of Critical Intercultural Communication

Ronald L. Jackson II is a professor of media and cinema studies and the head of the African American studies department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the author of several books, including Scripting the Black Masculine Body: Identity, Discourse, and Racial Politics in Popular Media. Murali Balaji is an assistant professor of mass communications and the director of the Mass Communications Center of Excellence at Lincoln University. He is the author of The Professor and the Pupil: The Politics and Friendship of W. E. B. Du Bois and Paul Robeson.

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