Macho Men in South African Gyms


Book Description

This book explores the experiences of self-identified heterosexual and gay men in contemporary South African gym contexts, particularly as it relates to how the intersection of spornosexual and inclusive masculinities inform their views and enactment of their masculine and sexual identities. Chapters engage with findings from an in-depth qualitative sociological exploration on issues surrounding these masculinities among men living in South Africa who engage in gym work. The author demonstrates that men, when given the opportunity to reflect on their own and the masculinity of others, acknowledge how they promote softer, kinder, disciplined, playful, and sexually agentic masculinities through their look and touch.




Macho Men in South African Gyms


Book Description

This book explores the experiences of self-identified heterosexual and gay men in contemporary South African gym contexts, particularly as it relates to how the intersection of spornosexual and inclusive masculinities inform their views and enactment of their masculine and sexual identities. Chapters engage with findings from an in-depth qualitative sociological exploration on issues surrounding these masculinities among men living in South Africa who engage in gym work. The author demonstrates that men, when given the opportunity to reflect on their own and the masculinity of others, acknowledge how they promote softer, kinder, disciplined, playful, and sexually agentic masculinities through their look and touch.




Current Issues Facing Men and Boys


Book Description

This important book offers an accessible overview and timely examination of the unique challenges faced by men and boys in contemporary society. It covers a wide range of topics, including the male mental health crisis, the impact of media and popular culture on male identity, and issues related to body image, as well as education, work, sexual behaviour, relationships, and the evolving roles of fatherhood. Additionally, it addresses the prevalence of violence, homelessness, substance misuse, and specific issues faced by men in institutional settings like the military and prison. Written in a user-friendly style, each chapter contains summary action points and signposts to further resources where relevant. The book takes an intersectional approach throughout, which continually considers the role of gender, ethnicity, religion, culture, class, and sexuality in the lives of men and boys. It therefore serves as an inclusive and comprehensive resource for promoting a more compassionate society, highlighting the need for evidence-based interventions and strategies to foster meaningful change that supports the well-being of men and boys. Emphasizing that addressing men's issues complements and reinforces the broader fight for gender equality, this practical book is highly relevant for mental health professionals, educators, and other practitioners who are interested in understanding the unique challenges that men and boys face. It will also be useful reading for students of psychology, gender studies, sociology, health and social care, and many other subjects.




The Muscle Trade


Book Description

The health and fitness industry has experienced a meteoric rise over the past two decades, yet its slick exterior conceals a darker side. Using ethnographic data from gyms, interviews, and social media platforms, this book investigates the growing consumption of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs), the motivations behind their use, and their role in masculine body image. Addressing a gap in the literature, Nick Gibbs also interrogates both the offline and digital drug supply chains with important insights for IPED harm reduction practitioners, law makers and policy advisors.




Drum


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Outlook


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Sport and International Development


Book Description

Investigating the capacity of sport to act both as a conduit for traditional development assistance activities and as an agent for change in its own right, this book argues that sport can contribute to the development process, particularly where traditional development approaches have difficulty in engaging with communities.




Challenging Macho Values


Book Description

Twenty-nine collected essays represent a critical history of Shakespeare's play as text and as theater, beginning with Samuel Johnson in 1765, and ending with a review of the Royal Shakespeare Company production in 1991. The criticism centers on three aspects of the play: the love/friendship debate.




Women and the Remaking of Politics in Southern Africa


Book Description

This study looks at womens stuggle in Southern Africa where the last ten years have seen the most pervasive success stories on the African continent.Tracing the history of womens involvement in anti-colonial struggles and against apartheid, the book analyses post-colonial outcomes and examines the strategies employed by womens movements to gain a foothold in politics.




Images in the Dark


Book Description

This encyclopedia of gay and lesbian film and video is a revealing, comprehensive and engrossing reference source that uncovers vast and previously unknown contributions by lesbians and gay men to the entertainment industry.