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Supportive Masculinities: Caring for Others

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Contemporary Masculinities

Abstract

This chapter explores men’s caring practices across different settings, ranging from offering support to peers online or in the pub to nurturing children and becoming allies to women and gay men. Literature on ‘caring masculinities’ stems mainly from studies of fatherhood and this work is summarised to set the scene. Three extended research examples of caring masculinities are then presented: firstly, examining how men experiencing infertility provide support and guidance to peers in fraternal ways within online forums; then, looking at how involved and stay-at-home fathers report on their experiences in gendered ways; lastly, highlighting accounts of men who have volunteered to work with organisations committed to supporting equality and combating sexism and homophobia. Implications for changing masculinities—and social change—are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK

    Brendan Gough

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  1. Brendan Gough
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Gough, B. (2018). Supportive Masculinities: Caring for Others. In: Contemporary Masculinities. Palgrave Pivot, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78819-7_4

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