craneyourneck:

I’m currently taking a class on History of American Manhood which is very fascinating. If you’re into masculinity and manhood studies, I’d suggest taking a look at this list. Or you can just look into it if you’re a history nerd like I am. 

Books

Michael Kimmel, Manhood in America: A Cultural History. Third Edition (Oxford University Press, 2011)

Kimmel writes on white middle class masculinity. This book is more of a social history (he is a sociologist, and not a historian after all) interpretation of the genteel patriarch, heroic artisan, and the self-made men. For a more recent manhood reading, you can look into Guyland.  

George Chauncey, Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890-1940 (Basic Books, 1995)

A great book! It really reveals a life regular people would never have thought existed. It argues against three myths of the gay world: myth of isolation, invisibility, and internalization. This is also a cool place to fine awesome stories and fun facts.

Kristin L. Hoganson, Fighting for American Manhood: How Gender Politics Provoked the Spanish-American and Philippine-American Wars (Yale University Press, 1998)

I’m pretty sure this was Hoganson’s dissertation, so, it reads like one. However, it attempts a discussion of discourse and manhood. If anything, it can help think about our current discourse on masculinity and wars.

For a more discourse center reading, however, you should read Gail Dine’s Manliness & Civilization. I loved this book because it goes into theory discussions and theory is cool! (Yes, that’s a direct link to an online version of the book)

Kevin P. Murphy, Political Manhood: Red Bloods, Mollycoddles, and the Politics of Progressive Era Reform (Columbia University Press, 2008) 

Not one of my favorites so far. But it’s still history~

Stephen Estes, I Am a Man! Race, Manhood & the Civil Rights Movement (University of North Carolina Press, 2005)

I think this is my favorite book of the class. First, you should know I love AA history, and have :’feelings on the Civil Rights movement, especially on Malcolm X/Black Panther. Estes is excellent at getting at the roots of masculinity in the movement(s) and discussion of race + manhood. One of the best books, written phenomenally well and yeah, if you read any of these books, read this one. 

It also has the greatest chapter title: “The Baddest Motherfuckers Ever to Set Foot Inside of History”

Articles (with some links)

McCurdy, John Gilbert. “Gentlemen and Soldiers: Competing Visions of Manhood in Early Jamestown.” [pdf]

Jenkins and Hine, “Black Men’s History: Toward a Gendered Perspective” [pdf]

Brown, Kathleen M. “Strength of the Lion… Arms Like Polished Iron” [pdf]

These are just some of the articles. I didn’t want to post everything because we haven’t finished the course yet. I didn’t want to post anything I wouldn’t be able to discuss and/or answer questions about. 

I hope this helps your interests or curiosity of manhood and masculinity in the USA. Happy reading!