Degrees of masculinity: Working and middle-class undergraduate students’ constructions of masculine identities

Ingram, Nicola; Waller, Richard

Abstract

Exploring the current perceived ‘crisis of masculinity’ and what might be seen as its opposing stance, that society now facilitates more inclusive forms of masculinity, this chapter considers research with young undergraduate men from working-class and middle-class backgrounds. We argue that the crisis of masculinity is somewhat overstated. Middle-class men in particular can present a veneer of inclusivity attuned to being a modern liberal man but this masks a refashioning not the reforming of traditional male power relations. Meanwhile our study’s working-class men demonstrate elements of tension with constructions of masculinity seemingly resolved in the emergence of more positive identifications. We therefore conclude that masculinity is neither in crisis nor radically reformed.

• Publication Date: Oct 3, 2014
• Deposit Date: Aug 27, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 1, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 35-51
• Book Title: Debating Modern Masculinities: Change, Continuity, Crisis?
• Chapter Number: 3
• ISBN: 9781349484034
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137394842_3
• Keywords: social-class, masculinities, higher education
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/810770
• Additional Information: Additional Information : Waller, R. (2014) Degrees of masculinity: Working and middle class undergraduate students’ constructions of masculine identities. In: Roberts, S., ed. (2014) Debating Modern Masculinities: Change, Continuity, Crisis? Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 35-51. ISBN 9781137394835 reproduced with permission of Palgrave Macmillan. This extract is taken from the author's original manuscript and has not been edited. The definitive, published, version of record is available here: http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/debating-modern-masculinities-steven-roberts/?sf1=barcode&st1=9781137394835
• Contract Date: Nov 15, 2016