ANTH5030 Men and Masculinities
This course will introduce students to the field of men and masculinity. It will examine cultural construction of masculinity through the life course of men and in institutions such as family, schools, college, workplace, military, marriage, politics, and with a focus on contemporary American, Chinese, Mexican, and Japanese societies. This course will highlight the multiple masculinities that exist, showing which are privileged and what effects this hierarchy of masculinities has. Topics include men's socialization, male sexuality and fertility, men's health and body, male aggression and violence, the idea of machismo, intimacy and friendship among males, fatherhood, men's experiences with sports and work, media representations of boys and men, and the social construction of masculinities in different historical and cultural contexts. This course will help students understand how masculinity as a social concept affects their relations with the people in their lives, approaching gender problems in a rational way, and developing cultural sensitivity toward masculinity and gender issues.