Representing the Male: Masculinity, Genre and Social Context in Six South Wales Novels

The book subjects male characters in six south Wales novels written between 1936 and 2014 to detailed,gendered reading, arguing that the novels critique the form of masculine hegemony propagated by structural patriarchy serving the material demands of industrial capitalism.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2021
Publisher: University of Wales Press

The book delves into a comprehensive analysis of male characters in six South Wales novels, spanning from 1936 to 2014. Through a detailed and gendered reading, it argues that these novels critique the prevailing form of masculine hegemony propagated by structural patriarchy, which serves the material demands of industrial capitalism. Within these novels, characters are portrayed as confined to a limited repertoire of culturally endorsed behavioral norms, such as displays of power, decisiveness, and self-control. These norms prohibit the expression and cultivation of the subjective self, limiting individuals to a predefined role within the social organization of industrial capitalism.

In practice, the working-class characters in these novels are reduced to dispensable functionaries at work, while in theory, they are accorded the status of patriarchally sanctioned principals at home. Ideologically, they are subservient and 'feminized' in one context, while they are ideologically dominant and 'masculinized' in another. As these characters navigate the complex demands of gendered practices, recurring patterns of exclusion, inadequacy, and mental instability become evident in their representation.

The book explores the ways in which these male characters are shaped by the patriarchal structures that dominate their lives, and how they struggle to reconcile the conflicting demands of gender roles and societal expectations. It sheds light on the complexities of masculinity, power dynamics, and the impact of economic systems on individual identity and behavior. Through its detailed analysis, the book offers a valuable contribution to the study of literature, gender, and social change, providing a deeper understanding of the complexities of male representation in contemporary society.

Weight: 302g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786837783