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Masculinity in the Modern West

Gender, Civilization and the Body

By: C. Forth

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Paperback | 15 November 2008 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

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298 Pages

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23.3 x 15.7 x 1.7

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What does it mean to be a man? To be manly? How has this changed throughout history? This text examines the manly stereotype, which stresses courage and athletic comportment, which from the eighteenth century onwards became representative of normative modern society. By using the ideal of the "man of action" as a focal point, a wide range of hitherto neglected aspects of the male body are brought to the fore, from styles of bodily comportment and medical concerns about health, energy, and sexuality to more contemporary issues pertaining to body shape, muscularity, athleticism, and age. This book argues that the loudly proclaimed "crisis" of Western manhood has been marked by attempts to compensate for the gap between the historic bodily ideal of manly action and the banalities of material prosperity and conveniences of modern existence.

Industry Reviews

'Forth's ambitious panoramic history of western masculinity is sweepingly broad, yet Forth has a keen eye for the revealing detail. With an analysis as sharp as his style is clear and erudite, Forth's reach never exceeds his grasp. This is a most impressive work!' - Michael Kimmel, Professor of Sociology and editor of Men and Masculinities

'Christopher Forth's survey of masculinity in the West is the first historical synthesis of the rich literature in this field. He puts familiar materials together in surprising new ways and presents readers with some highly original and provocative interpretations that will prove to be important contributions to gender studies and cultural history. The wit and deftness of Forth's style and his well-chosen examples make it a sheer delight to read.'

- Robert A. Nye, Horning Professor of the Humanities and Professor of History Emeritus, Oregon State University

'Christopher E. Forth's superb synthesis on masculinity in the modern West is a timely and original publication, with the broadest of appeal. It is, however, of specific relevance to historians of medicine and science in society, and will prove an invaluable text in those fields. This is an indispensable and highly engaging book, which will be valued for many years to come.' - Sean Brady, Social History of Medicine

'A fascinating meditation on the diverse ways that predictions about the collapse of masculinity have been narrated in the past.' -

Joanna Bourke, Medical History

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction History Specific Events & Topics in History Social & Cultural History Society & Culture Social Groups Gender Studies Gender Studies: Men and Boys Miscellaneous Items Cultural Studies Popular Culture

List of Illustrations	p. viii
Acknowledgments	p. x
Introduction: Civilization and its Malcontents	p. 1
Making and Unmaking the Gentleman
Four Faces of Civilization, c. 1500-1750	p. 21
Balancing Acts: The Paradox of the Gentleman	p. 42
Male Bodies in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
The Armor of Health and the Diseases of Civilization	p. 67
A Diet of Pleasures? The Incorporation of Manhood	p. 92
Building Bodies: Violence, Pain and the Nation	p. 114
The Twentieth Century and Beyond
Modern Primitives: Manhood and Metamorphosis around 1900	p. 141
Men of Steel: Technologies of the Male Body	p. 169
The Last Men? Consuming Manhood since 1945	p. 201
Conclusion: The Return of the Repressed	p. 229
Notes	p. 238
Index	p. 278
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Masculinity in the Modern West

Gender, Civilization and the Body

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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