Reviews for Taking it like a man

The average rating for Taking it like a man based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-03-05 00:00:00 Patricia Lesniak David Sarvan's cultural analysis of transformations (and continuations) in masculinities during the latter half of the 20th century is wonderful. His focus relies primarily on psychological theories to trace elements of masochism that connect these disparate masculine forms. I was interested because he illustrates something that Connell's theory of hegemonic masculinity doesn't always seem to as explicitly acknowledge--the capacity of dominant masculinities to adopt, co-opt, and transform the meanings associated with masculinity practices of marginalized and subordinated groups. His presentation is a powerful illustration of the how a discourse of "crisis" is utilized (strategically?) in ways that continue to work to men's collective advantage. Telling this story alongside demographic transformations and a history of identity rights movements, Sarvan seeks to analyzes the ways in which new masculinities (associated primarily with young, white, heterosexual men) are opportunistic responses to a series of pressures: domestic multiculturalism, the rise and success of identity politics, and a transformation toward a service economy with all of the globalization of labor it entails. "Taking It Like a Man" is a wonderful title. It highlights the irony of having to prove one's masculinity by "taking it," a simultaneously subordinating, homosexualizing process that has the odd effects of shoring up heterosexual, dominant, and dominating masculine ideals and forms. Really wonderful analysis. I don't think it's appropriate for courses (it's a bit too much, and students would have to work to make sociological sense of the text), but it's a piece that is not cited enough among sociologists of masculinities in my opinion.

Review # 2 was written on 2009-12-03 00:00:00 Phillip Wesholowski Sollte eigentlich von mehr Menschen gelesen werden.