Presentation on men and masculinity

Presentation on men and masculinity with associate professor Kenneth Reinicke from Roskilde University on 11 May at 2.00 PM in the auditorium.

How do we understand men today, and how is masculinity shaped in a changing world?

In this presentation, I will present parts of my research on men and masculinity, focusing on some of the challenges and opportunities that many men face.

Masculinity research concerns men’s identities, attitudes, and practices, and there is a growing need for systematic knowledge about men’s lives from a gender perspective. At the same time, men as a social gender have in many ways been overlooked, which opens up new questions and perspectives.

In the presentation, I will discuss different understandings of men today: how men can be seen both as a protected and invisible gender, and at the same time as a polarized and at times extreme gender. An important theme is men’s experiences of vulnerability and community. Many men experience difficulties in opening up about what they find challenging and do not always feel met with understanding. Problems may be downplayed or become the subject of humor, and showing vulnerability - especially in male communities - can involve a risk of standing alone. I will also address how the #MeToo debate has influenced the study of men and masculinity and opened up new research perspectives.

As part of the presentation, I will also present my new research project on masculinity, care, and environmental change in Greenland, conducted in collaboration with Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare. Together with Steven Arnfjord, I examine how men’s roles and identities are shaped through encounters with social and climatic change, and what new understandings of responsibility, care, and community may emerge.