Theorising Masculinities in Contemporary Britain

Abstract

This chapter examines two key issues about masculinities in contemporary Britain. First, we examine what the evidence says about the extent to which British masculinities are changing, and how this is manifest in contemporary society. Second, we explore how theoretical understandings of masculinities both shape one’s findings, and evolve in relation to a changing culture. We thus provide a partial history of masculinity theory and contextualise the chapters of this edited volume, in order to advance theoretical and empirical understanding of British masculinities. We argue that far from being a crisis of masculinities, the gendered changes in the social lives of British men are positive and to be welcomed.