Generational masculinities

Although masculinity has been systematically studied since the early twentieth century (O'shea 1909), the study of masculinities grew rapidly across the social sciences throughout the second-half of the century. Much of the research on men and masculinities in the later twentieth century focused either on what was missing from male lives, compared to women's lives, or the social problems associated with masculinity (Pleck, 1975). David and Brannon (1976), for example, argued that the central tenets of masculinity were:'no sissy stuff; be a big wheel; be sturdy as an oak; and give'em hell'. Thus, in order to be thought masculine, boys and men were required to show no fear or weakness and to hide all trace of inadequacy and anxiety. Morin and Garfinkle soon after established that homophobia was a driving mechanism of gendered boundaries (1978) in the west. In 1987, Connell first …