After discussing the concepts of "white" and "black" masculinity, the article discusses the following factors constraining black male role assumption: (1) structural constraints; (2) societal constraints; (3) dysfunctional socialization messages; and (4) psychological factors. Three theories on black masculinity are discussed and their weaknesses…

Discusses the stereotyped concept of male roles in our society and posits a new vision of masculinity wherein boys would express a full range of behaviors and emotions, and maleness and femaleness would be equally valued. The change can begin with a rethinking of how masculinity is taught. (MD)

Conceptions of the male role are a highly salient facet of worldview worthy of consideration for counselors working with male populations. This paper introduces broad conceptual models of the male role including traditional masculinity, ideology, and gender role conflict and briefly summarizes research using these models, which illustrates the…

This encyclopedia is the first reference work to focus on the life and history of U.S. boyhood through the centuries. Coverage in the encyclopedia spans education, ethnicity, sports, work, religion, and health issues. The encyclopedia's expert contributors approach topics from many disciplines, including history, cultural studies, media studies,…

Based primarily on stories told by a male elementary school teacher and stories told about him by parents, staff, and children, this paper explores how the identity of this male teacher is shaped. The paper begins by telling a specific story of a student who had wet her pants and how the teacher addressed the matter. Recounted conversations with…

Analyzes how young boys adopt a definition of masculinity as avoiding whatever is done by girls, and explains the notion of "fighting boys" behavior and how this understanding of masculinity leads to scorn and rejection towards girls as a group. Teachers are encouraged to teach that "fighting boys" behavior is not equated with classroom or…

Masculine gender roles, traditional vocational interests, and career choice are modeled using structural equations. Participants were 212 students from 51 majors. Two competing models were tested. Results favor a fully mediated model in which masculine gender roles influence vocational interests, which influence the traditionality of career choice…

Argues that black masculinities are not expressed in isolation but are shaped by school processes. Reveals that the young black males' relationship with teachers and peers (1) gives them a less positive perception of their masculinity; and (2) without discussion, acts to pathologize their identities causing them to feel responsible for their…

A week-long residential program in the United Kingdom combines ritual with psychotherapy to assist men in coming to terms with the meaning of masculinity. The program recognizes no fixed notion of manhood, but aims to support each man as he finds within himself, and marks with ritual, the next step in his unique journey. (TD)

Presents a narrative of one man's experiences as an early childhood worker. Offers reflections from feminist and pro-feminist critical perspectives on the reactions and incidents he encountered. Explores tensions between risks and rewards, perceptions of power and powerlessness, and personal and political contexts. The tensions highlight the…

This article reports findings from a research project on the early career path of a group of male elementary school teachers. Issues of caring for children and disparities between how male and female teachers are permitted to relate to their elementary-age students are explored. In the preservice situation, the participants experienced tensions…

The past decade has witnessed a remarkable explosion of knowledges across the academy, media and political discourse, generating a wide range of representations of men and masculinity. In this paper, we interrogate the failure for an accompanying understanding of the epistemological and methodological implications of the research process in this…

This article examines men's use of physical punishment when interacting with their sons or grandsons in rural Vietnam. By drawing on two periods of anthropological fieldwork in a northern Vietnamese commune, the article analyses the ways in which violence is informed by, while also perpetually reinforcing, a masculine discourse. Vietnam has…

Given research findings that women have a strong tendency to describe the ideal man as androgynous, perhaps social interaction with an androgynous male could be seen as a social reward, whereas interaction with a masculine male may be less rewarding or aversive for women. A study was conducted to determine the functional properties of androgyny as…

Previous studies which have suggested that masculinity is a strong predictor of mental health have been generally limited to college student populations, or have focused specifically on women. The present study investigated the relationship of masculinity to self-esteem and self-acceptance in male professionals (N=96), clients (N=55), and…