Rural Manhood

Mode of access: Internet.

Käsityön sukupuolirajat ja rajojen rikkojat

Gender-specific division of crafts is significant in Finnish culture. The aim of craft education in comprehensive schools has been to unify education for both girls and boys during the thirty years of modern comprehensive education, but in reality crafts has diverged into two different subjects for girls and boys. Craft education has taught different things: girls have been taught things that are feminine and included in private life, while the boys’ education has been mostly directed at public and working life. At the same time girls and boys have been educated and socialized towards a certain womanhood and manhood. Craft as a hobby is also very gender divided but there are some clues that tell of the changing positions on the border areas. The starting point of this study has been the assumption that gender structures within crafts can be transformed. But it is important to know the background that creates and maintains these constructions and the expedients for dismantling the structures. The main purpose of this study is to find out how the gender-specific crafts are changing and how they are still maintained. My study analyses why men and woman have chosen untypical hobbies and through that I shall discuss how gendered structures can be dismantled. In the autumn of 2008 I interviewed borderline breakers within crafts: men who had an interest in textile crafts and women who had an interest in technical work. Informants of this study were 20-31 years old and they studied behavioural sciences. The data was collected in 12 theme interviews and document analysis was used to study the results. The dismantling of the gender divide in crafts is slow, but new borders are drawn all the time. The informants have started textile and technical handicrafts soon after comprehensive school or during their studies at university. A main motivation for the new hobby has been the possibility to study for a teacher’s degree with technology or textile studies as a main or a secondary subject. Gender-specific division of crafts is constructed early in childhood as different skills are taught to girls and boys. School teaches gender specific skills and the different skills of girls and boys have not been taken into account. Instead, it has been assumed through comprehensive school that both girls and boys share certain basic skills, and attention has not been paid to the differences between genders. At university the same assumption has still thrived. Skill levels between men and women are substantial and that may have hindered a move by women to technical studies and by men to textile studies. Hence an assumption of naturally gendered crafts has been developed.

Nainen, mies, rakkaus, seksi : Heterosuhteen kulku, kulttuurinen malli ja sitä selittävät diskurssit kahden omaelämäkerta-aineiston valossa

The subject matter of this study is the cultural knowledge concerning romantic male-female relationships in autobiographies written by so called ordinary Finnish men and women born between 1901 and 1965. The research data (98 autobiographies) is selected from two collections by the Finnish Literature Society s folklore archives in the early 1990 s. Autobiographies are cultural representations where negotiation of shared cultural models and personal meanings given to hetero-relationship is evident in an interesting manner. In this research I analyze autobiographies as a written folklore genre. Information concerning male-female relationships is being analyzed using theoretically informed close readings thematic analysis, intertextual reading and reflexive reading. Theoretical implications stem from cognitive anthropology (the idea of cultural models) and an adaptation of discourse theory inspired by Michel Foucault. The structure of the analysis follows the structure of the shared knowledge concerning romantic male-female relationship: the first phase of analysis presents the script of a hetero-relationship and then moves into the actual structure, the cultural model of a relationship. The components of the model of relationship are, as mentioned in the title of the research, woman, man, love and sex. The research shows that all the writers share this basic knowledge concerning a heterosexual relationship despite their age, background or gender. Also the conflicts described and experienced in the relationships of the writers were similar throughout the timespan of the early 1900 s to 1990 s: lack of love, inability to reconcile sexual desires, housework, sharing the responsibility of childcare and financial problems. The research claims that the conflicts in relationships are a major cause for the binary view on gender. When relationships are harmonious, there seems to be no need to see men and women as opposites. The research names five important discourses present in the meaning giving processes of autobiographers. In doing so, the stabile cultural model of male-female relationship widens to show the complexity and variation in data. In this way it is possible to detect some age and gender specific shifts and emphasis. The discourses give meaning to the components of the cultural model and determine the contents of womanhood, manhood, sexuality and love. The way these discourses are spread and their authority are different: the romantic discourse evident in the autobiographies appeal to the authority of love supreme love is the purpose of male-female relationship and it justifies sexuality. In this discourse sex can be the place for confluence of genders. The ideas of romantic love are widely spread in popular culture. Popular scientific discourse defines a relationship as a site to become a man and a woman either from a psychological or a biological point of view. Genders are seen as opposites. These ideas are often presented in media and their authority in science which is seen as infallible. The Christian discourse defines men and women: both should work for the benefit of the nuclear family under the undisputed authority of God. Marital love is based on Christian virtues and within marriage sexuality is acceptable. The discourse I ve named folk tradition defines women and men as guardians of home and offspring. The authority of folk tradition comes from universal truth based in experience and truths known to the mediators of this discourse grandparents, parents and other elders or peers. Societal discourse defines the hetero relationship as the mainstay of society. The authority in societal discourse stems from the laws and regulations that control relationship practices.

Revisiting the gentleman : a study of hegemonic masculinity in the works of Jane Austen

L’augmentation grandissante de l’attention portée dans les études sur la masculinité tant à la littérature féminine qu’à ses auteurs incite les chercheurs à se pencher de nouveau sur l’icône qu’est le gentilhomme, sur la réponse qu’offre la littérature du XVIIIe siècle face à cette idéalisation de la masculinité, et comment ces standards ont contribué à façonner nos propres perceptions des différenciations des rôles sexuels. Ce mémoire présente une analyse des personnages masculins des romans de Jane Austen, Emma, Persuasion et Mansfield Park, à travers le concept de « masculinité hégémonique » de R.W. Connell, concept qui a eu un impact certain dans les recherches retraçant comment l’histoire et l’hégémonie ont fabriqué les attentes sociales et nationales envers l’homme anglais. Les livres expliquant la conduite à avoir pour être un gentilhomme viril ont sans aucun doute perpétué ces idéaux. À travers l’étude de la politesse, de la sincérité et de l’héroïsme, perpétuellement renouvelés afin de correspondre aux nouveaux idéaux de la masculinité, cette thèse étudie les livres éducatifs influents, notamment de Locke, Knox et Secker, afin de comprendre de quelle façon la masculinité hégémonique est devenue une partie intégrante du discours et de l’éducation à l’époque de la Régence anglaise. Les œuvres d’Austen ne cesse de rappeler la vulnérabilité de l’hégémonie en rappelant constamment au lecteur l’importance des expériences et de la croissance personnelle, et ce, peu importe le sexe. Néanmoins, ses romans correspondent tout de même à ce que devrait être une éducation appropriée reposant sur les règle de conduite, l’autonomie, le travail et la sincérité; lesquels, tel que l’histoire analysée dans ce mémoire le démontrera, appartiennent également aux idéaux du nationalisme anglais et de la masculinité.

Social rejection of minority groups and its impacts on the individual's identity and perception of the self : exploring homosexual and racial identities in James Baldwin's Giovanni's room and Just above my head

Ce mémoire examine la question de la formation de l'identité en tant que procédure compliquée dans laquelle plusieurs éléments interviennent. L'identité d'une personne se compose à la fois d’une identité propre et d’une autre collective. Dans le cas où l’identité propre est jugée sévèrement par les autres comme étant déviante, cela poussera la personne à, ou bien maintenir une image compatible avec les prototypes sociaux ou bien résister et affirmer son identité personnelle. Mon travail montre que l'exclusion et la répression de certains aspects de l'identité peuvent causer un disfonctionnement psychique difficile à surmonter. Par contre, l'acceptation de soi et l’adoption de tous les éléments qui la constituent conduisent, certes après une longue lutte, au salut de l’âme et du corps. Le premier chapitre propose une approche psychosociale qui vise à expliquer le fonctionnement des groupes et comment l'interaction avec autrui joue un rôle décisif dans la formation de l'identité. Des éléments extérieurs comme par exemple les idéaux sociaux influencent les comportements et les choix des gens. Toutefois, cette influence peut devenir une menace aux spécificités personnelles et aux traits spécifiques. Le deuxième chapitre examine la question des problèmes qu’on risque d’avoir au cas où les traits identitaires franchiraient les normes sociales. Nous partons du problème épineux de la quête de soi dans Giovanni's Room de James Baldwin. L'homosexualité de David était tellement refusée par la société qu’elle a engendrée chez lui des sentiments de honte et de culpabilité. Il devait choisir entre le sacrifice des aspects de soi pour satisfaire les paradigmes sociaux ou bien perdre ce qu’il a de propre. David n'arrive pas à se libérer. Il reste prisonnier des perceptions rigides au sujet de la masculinité et de la sexualité. Mon analyse se focalise essentiellement sur l'examen des différents éléments théoriques qui touchent la question du sexe et de la sexualité. Le résultat est le suivant : plus les opinions dominantes sont rigides et fermes, plus elles deviennent une prison pour l’individu. Par contre, plus elles sont tolérantes et flexibles, plus elles acceptent les diversités de l'identité humaine. Dans le dernier chapitre, j'examine la question de la représentation des relations entre les caractères masculins dans Just Above My Head. L'homosexualité est présentée comme un moyen sacré pour exprimer l'amour. Les caractères révèlent leurs sentiments implicitement à travers les chants spirituel tel que le gospel ou bien explicitement à travers la connexion physique. Dans ce roman, Baldwin montre que c'est seulement grâce à la sincérité et à l'amour que l'individu peut atteindre la libération du soi.

Misogyny in Health Professions? An Analysis of the Dalhousie Dentistry Scandal

Commentaire / Commentary

Bland amasoner och eunucker : En kvalitativ studie av patografier av kvinnor med bröstcancer och män med prostatacancer

Narratives about life-changing events like cancer have become more common in today’s society. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether gender patterns in society can also be found in pathographies about cancer, and further to investigate how gender is expressed in these cancer related narratives. Questions were posed on characteristics of the autobiographical cancer narratives, how gender is constructed by the authors of these narratives, and what these narratives say about gender structures’ liability to change in the individuals affected by this disease. The material consisted of two Swedish pathographies about breast cancer, written by women, and two Swedish pathographies about prostate cancer, written by men. These works were published in the first decade of the present century. Narrative interpretation was used as the analysis method. The results show that gender patterns expressed in these narratives mainly follow conventional standards. Gender structures appear to be resistant to change in men and women diagnosed with cancer. The narratives by the women authors appear though to be somewhat more open to using the notions of manhood than was sees in narratives by the male authors regarding norms of femininity.

Significados e sentidos dos discursos de um grupo de crianças da 3ª série do ensino fundamental sobre a profissão e os gêneros na docência

Esta pesquisa investiga os significados e sentidos dos discursos de um grupo de crianças da 3ª série do ensino fundamental sobre a profissão e os gêneros na docência, com o intuito de analisar por meio dos discursos das crianças os desdobramentos das questões de gênero no trabalho docente e no magistério. As crianças foram as minhas interlocutoras e sujeitos nesta empreitada e suas vozes foram o meu objeto de pesquisa e análise. A abordagem discursiva foi a perspectiva adotada no processo de investigação. Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta dos dados foram entrevista semi-estruturada e o uso de duas imagens fotográficas adotadas como iniciadoras do diálogo com as crianças. A pesquisa foi realizada em uma escola da rede pública municipal de Ananindeua-Pa, e no seu quadro docente atuavam de 1ª à 4ª séries no período em que a investigação foi realizada 19 professoras e 08 professores. O referencial teórico utilizado como aporte para a análise dos dados coletados está baseado nas teorizações de Mikhail Bakhtin sobre o discurso. Para relacionar as vozes das crianças com o contexto social, cultural e histórico vivenciado por estas, recorremos a autores/as como Áries, Perrot, Connell, Carvalho, Louro. As análises foram organizadas em 05 eixos-temáticos que emergiram dos discursos das crianças: 01- Os discursos ideológicos sobre a profissão docente e a definição histórica de papéis e funções para os sexos; 02- O significado da profissão e seus vínculos históricos e culturais com a maternidade; 03- Masculinidades e Feminilidades: Os múltiplos sentidos atribuídos aos gêneros na docência; 04- Relações de poder entre adultos e crianças e na prática docente; 05- O exercício da docência e as relações afetivas. Os discursos das crianças demonstram muitas continuidades e também rupturas com os papéis que foram construídos historicamente para homens e mulheres. O principal sentido da docência feminina para as crianças está na atenção e paciência e da docência masculina está na autoridade. Seus discursos também apresentam muitas expectativas e desejos para a prática de professores/as que superam binarismos e polaridades e oferecem informações significativas para (re)pensarmos a docência.

Para além da heteronormatividade: uma análise dos eunucos representados por Estácio, Marcial e Suetônio (Roma, 80-121 d. C)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Para além da heteronormatividade: uma análise dos eunucos representados por Estácio, Marcial e Suetônio (Roma, 80-121 d. C)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

"Enemigos de la virilidad": Sex, Masturbation, and Celibacy in Nineteenth-Century Spain

The discourse on sexuality in nineteenth-century Spain presents a fundamental difference between the masculine ideal of that period and our current definition of masculinity. According to today’s popular stereotype, the typical man seeks out sexual contact and takes any opportunities that arise. By contrast, within the hygiene texts of the nineteenth century one detects a sense of unease associated with sexual activity and its corresponding role in the construction of hegemonic masculinity. In particular, sexual excess, masturbation, and celibacy were viewed as antagonistic to middle-class masculinity, which was instead associated with venereal moderation, marriage, and fatherhood. Men who transgressed this model risked their health as well as their masculinity. This formula reveals an element of fragility with regard to notions of manhood, in contrast to the traditional image of Spanish masculinity that originated during the Reconquest and is based on bellicose heroism, bravado, and sexual prowess.

Poder, cuerpos y representaciones sobre lo masculino, entre policías y jugadores de rugby

En estas páginas, a través de un diálogo comparativo entre dos objetos y sujetos de investigación diferentes, reflexionaremos sobre representaciones corporales y nociones de lo masculino Proponemos comparar los resultados de dos trabajos etnográficos uno entre hombres que juegan al rugby en la ciudad de La Plata y el otro entre hombres y mujeres policías de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Nuestro objetivo es analizar cómo diferentes agentes del mundo social producen y reproducen, a través del cuerpo, nociones de género. Nuestro recorrido analítico nos lleva, primero a ver las representaciones del cuerpo, en cada uno de estos mundos relacionales para luego analizar cómo se usan estas representaciones. Nos motiva reflexionar las formas en que lo corporal se constituye en referente de nociones de masculinidad, y cómo estas son, al fin y al cabo, recursos utilizables según los contextos sociales

Poder, cuerpos y representaciones sobre lo masculino, entre policías y jugadores de rugby

En estas páginas, a través de un diálogo comparativo entre dos objetos y sujetos de investigación diferentes, reflexionaremos sobre representaciones corporales y nociones de lo masculino Proponemos comparar los resultados de dos trabajos etnográficos uno entre hombres que juegan al rugby en la ciudad de La Plata y el otro entre hombres y mujeres policías de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Nuestro objetivo es analizar cómo diferentes agentes del mundo social producen y reproducen, a través del cuerpo, nociones de género. Nuestro recorrido analítico nos lleva, primero a ver las representaciones del cuerpo, en cada uno de estos mundos relacionales para luego analizar cómo se usan estas representaciones. Nos motiva reflexionar las formas en que lo corporal se constituye en referente de nociones de masculinidad, y cómo estas son, al fin y al cabo, recursos utilizables según los contextos sociales

Poder, cuerpos y representaciones sobre lo masculino, entre policías y jugadores de rugby

En estas páginas, a través de un diálogo comparativo entre dos objetos y sujetos de investigación diferentes, reflexionaremos sobre representaciones corporales y nociones de lo masculino Proponemos comparar los resultados de dos trabajos etnográficos uno entre hombres que juegan al rugby en la ciudad de La Plata y el otro entre hombres y mujeres policías de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Nuestro objetivo es analizar cómo diferentes agentes del mundo social producen y reproducen, a través del cuerpo, nociones de género. Nuestro recorrido analítico nos lleva, primero a ver las representaciones del cuerpo, en cada uno de estos mundos relacionales para luego analizar cómo se usan estas representaciones. Nos motiva reflexionar las formas en que lo corporal se constituye en referente de nociones de masculinidad, y cómo estas son, al fin y al cabo, recursos utilizables según los contextos sociales

Marcus Aurelius; a biography told as much as may be by letters, together with some account of the Stoic religion and an exposition of the Roman government's attempt to suppress Christianity during Marcus's reign,

Bibliography: p. [273]-278.