Negotiating Masculinities and Modernity in the Maritime World, 1815-1940: A Sailor's Progress?

This book explores the paradox of masculinity in the maritime world in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, examining how commerce, politics, and technology supported male privilege while creating damaging lifestyles. The sailor is a working-class man whose representation fulfilled political and social ends, navigating challenges to masculinities with encounters with other races and ethnicities, technological change, shifting geopolitical and cultural contexts, and the fragile portrayal of masculinity in the imagined Nelson.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 313 pages
Publication date: 18 January 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This captivating book delves into the intricate tapestry of masculinity in the maritime world during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During this transformative era, commerce, politics, and technology converged to reinforce male privilege, while simultaneously fostering the polite, consumerist, and sedentary lifestyles that were perceived as detrimental to men's mental and physical well-being. This volume seeks to unravel this paradox by examining the figure of the sailor, a working-class man whose representation served multiple political and social purposes during this period.

The journey begins with the enduring image of romantic and heroic veterans of the Napoleonic wars, painting a vivid portrait of the ideals and values associated with masculinity. As the narrative unfolds, the reader is taken on a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges posed to masculinities by encounters with other races and ethnicities, as well as the profound impact of technological change on shifting geopolitical and cultural contexts.

The book culminates in a poignant portrayal of masculinity in the imagined Nelson, highlighting the fragile nature of these ideals in the face of societal pressures and changing norms. Through a meticulously curated collection of essays, this edited volume demonstrates that maritime masculinities were not only highly visible but also remarkably volatile sites for negotiating the complex tensions between masculinities, civilisation, race, technology, patriotism, citizenship, and respectability throughout the long nineteenth century.

This insightful exploration of masculinity in the maritime world offers a valuable lens through which to understand the broader social and cultural transformations of the past. By examining the complexities and contradictions inherent in the representation of sailors and their experiences, this book sheds light on the enduring power of gender norms and the ways in which they shape individuals and societies.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030779481
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021