scholarly journals Are men getting more emotional? Critical sociological perspectives on men, masculinities and emotions

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam de Boise ◽  
Jeff Hearn
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Gender Relations ◽  
The Political ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Men And Masculinities ◽  
Conceptual Confusion ◽  
Feminist Work

Sociological research, influenced by feminist and other critical perspectives, has noted how men’s emotional inexpressiveness was influenced, and supported, by patriarchal privilege. Such approaches have argued that ‘inexpression’ needs to be broken down in order to build gender equality and improve men’s own wellbeing. Emerging research has, however, challenged the argument that men are ‘emotionally inexpressive’ on two main premises: that, as a result of feminist critiques, many men now practise ‘softer’ or ‘more emotional’ forms of masculinity; second, that emotions always influence social action and so need to be better incorporated into sociological accounts of men’s behaviour. Yet these approaches entail some conceptual confusion as to what emotions are, how they link to social action and whether men’s emotions are inherently transformative for gender relations. This article first details how emotions and masculinity have been theorized in feminist-inspired approaches. It outlines recent work on emotions, men and masculinities before arguing for an understanding of emotions that engages with both physiologically grounded and postconstructionist debates. It finally suggests incorporating a material-discursive approach to men’s emotions, through feminist work on affect, which is attentive to the political dimensions of ‘increasing emotionality’ in order to contribute to a developing field of sociological research.

The Sociology of Mobile Apps

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Lupton
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
The Political ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Tablet Computers ◽  
Sociological Analysis ◽  
Software Applications ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Political Economy Approach

Since their introduction in 2008, software applications for mobile devices (“apps”) have become extremely popular forms of digital media. Mobile apps are designed as small bits of software for devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, smartwatches, and other wearable devices. This chapter presents a sociological analysis of apps through the lens of three major theoretical perspectives: (1) the political economy approach, (2) Foucauldian perspectives, and (3) sociomaterialism. Each perspective adopts a different focus, but all elucidate important aspects of the sociocultural and political dimensions of apps. Relevant empirical research is incorporated into the discussion to illustrate how apps are designed, developed, and promoted by a range of actors and agencies and to provide examples of the ways in which people incorporate apps into the routines of their everyday lives. The chapter ends with identifying directions for further sociological research and theorizing related to apps.

scholarly journals The political integration of newcomers of Latin American origin to Canada: An examination of the role and relevance of prior knowledge

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neyda H. Long ◽  
Andrew S. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Political Participation ◽  
Prior Knowledge ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Political Activity ◽  
The Political ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Policies And Programs

The purpose of this research was to map the understanding of the concept of political participation held by newcomers to Canada from countries from Spanish-speaking Latin America. The relevance of the work lies in the view that this prior knowledge plays a significant role in how newcomers adjust to political activity in the new society. Canada has tacitly recognized the full spectrum of participation and belonging for newcomers, including its economic, social and political dimensions, but the historical emphasis in policies and programs has been upon economic and social integration. Here, attention is directed to the issue of integration into the political fabric of the nation. The research employed a phenomenographic method and data were generated from 70 individuals from 30 families. The findings revealed that the participants attach considerable importance to political participation whether through conventional electoral politics or through grass-roots actions. For the study participants, the concept of political participation includes components related to emotional commitments, community involvement, social action, freedom of conscience, the power to make a difference and identification with Canada. The findings show that the motivational force to belong channels the preferred forms of political engagement.

scholarly journals Hvorfor spilde tiden med kvindelig idrætsledelse?

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linnea Ytting
Keyword(s):  
Gender Equality ◽  
Young Men ◽  
Gender Construction ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
The Political ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Sport Leadership ◽  
Gender Constructions ◽  
Leading Position ◽  
Political Dimensions

Artiklen med undertitlen 'Kønskonstruktioner og ligestillingsmæssige tiltag i den frivillige idrætsledelse' har til formål at vise de kønskonstruktioner, der eksisterer i idrætsorganisationerne, og som har indflydelse på forudsætningerne for kvinders besiddelse af lederposter i organisationerne.Linnea Ytting: Why waste time on female sport leadership? About gender construction, gender equality in the voluntary sport organizationsThe sports organisations Danmarks Idræts- Forbund (DIF) and Danske Gymnastik- og Idrætsforeninger (DGI) have few women represented in their top leader positions. Both organisations have approximately 50% female membership and represent the entire Danish organised sport field. This is a sad fact, because women and men in many areas have different interests in sports. This article analyses some of the gender constructions of 6 young men and women in voluntary leadership, within chosen sports organisations. The purpose is to find the meaning of gender and describe how it is interpreted by the women and men in leading positions. The result of this research shows that many women are not interested in leading positions higher than club level. At the same time however, the structure of organisations are limiting, as to women wanting to achieve a higher voluntary leading position. Therefore it can be established that women must want the power, but the power must also want the women. In 2002 the political mainstreaming project was offered to sports organisations, introducing the gender problem on the political agenda. The political dimensions will therefore be included in the article, because the consequences may affect the sports organisations

Persons Together

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan L. Mittleman
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Jewish Tradition ◽  
The Political ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Human Flourishing ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Market Relations ◽  
The Image Of God

This chapter moves into the political and economic aspects of human nature. Given scarcity and interdependence, what sense has Judaism made of the material well-being necessary for human flourishing? What are Jewish attitudes toward prosperity, market relations, labor, and leisure? What has Judaism had to say about the political dimensions of human nature? If all humans are made in the image of God, what does that original equality imply for political order, authority, and justice? In what kinds of systems can human beings best flourish? It argues that Jewish tradition shows that we act in conformity with our nature when we elevate, improve, and sanctify it. As co-creators of the world with God, we are not just the sport of our biochemistry. We are persons who can select and choose among the traits that comprise our very own natures, cultivating some and weeding out others.

The political dimensions of coexistence

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natacha Gagné
Keyword(s):  
The Political ◽  
Political Dimensions

The Political Theory of Data: Institutions, Algorithms, & Formats in Racial Redlining

2021 ◽  
pp. 009059172110278
Author(s):  
Colin Koopman
Keyword(s):  
Political Theory ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
The Political ◽  
Know How ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Emergent Literature

Despite widespread recognition of an emergent politics of data in our midst, we strikingly lack a political theory of data. We readily acknowledge the presence of data across our political lives, but we often do not know how to conceptualize the politics of all those data points—the forms of power they constitute and the kinds of political subjects they implicate. Recent work in numerous academic disciplines is evidence of the first steps toward a political theory of data. This article maps some limits of this emergent literature with an eye to enriching its theoretical range. The literature on data politics, both within political theory and elsewhere, has thus far focused almost exclusively on the algorithm. This article locates a further dimension of data politics in the work of formatting technology or, more simply, formats. Formats are simultaneously conceptual and technical in the ways they define what can even count as data, and by extension who can count as data and how they can count. A focus on formats is of theoretical value because it provides a bridge between work on the conceptual contours of categories and the technology-centric literature on algorithms that tends to ignore the more conceptual dimensions of data technology. The political insight enabled by format theory is shown in the context of an extended interrogation of the politics of racialized redlining.

scholarly journals Look at me, I’m on TV: the political dimensions of reality television participation

2021 ◽  
pp. 016344372110369
Author(s):  
Bethany Klein ◽  
Stephen Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Reality Television ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Electoral Systems ◽  
The Political ◽  
Democratic Representation ◽  
Political Dimensions

It has been over 20 years since the reality television genre attracted the attention of fans, critics and scholars. Reality programmes produced high viewing figures, suggesting a strong appetite for the form; critics dismissed the programmes as mindless and the participants as desperate for fame; and scholars assessed the formats, audiences and meanings of reality television, offering a complex, if rarely celebratory, account. While some commentators and scholars made connections between vote-based formats and electoral systems, or between opportunities afforded audiences for the deliberation of social issues and the idealized public sphere, the civic dimension of participation itself has not been explored. In this article, we take a closer look at reality television participants, drawing on press interviews and coverage in order to highlight how participants enact representative performances that might supplement more formal modes of democratic representation.

Behind closed doors! Homosocial desire and the academic boys club

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Fisher ◽  
Sue Kinsey
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Field Work ◽  
The Political ◽  
Detailed Data ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Feminist Poststructuralist ◽  
Homosocial Desire ◽  
Men And Masculinities ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to explore the nature and power of the academic boys club. In many organisations, the political significance of the boys club goes largely unremarked and unacknowledged. Yet, the way that male colleagues intimately relate to each other, sometimes called homosocial desire, is crucial to their success at gaining and retaining power at work. Design/methodology/approach – Feminist, poststructuralist, ethnographic, qualitative, and longitudinal data were collected over a five-year period from male and female academics in a British university. Findings – The boys club is still a powerful feature of British universities. Their apparent invisibility shrouds the manner in which they can and do promote and maintain male interests in a myriad of ways, including selection and promotion. These findings have resonances for all organisations. Research limitations/implications – Researching the intimacies between male colleagues requires time-intensive field work and insider access to men interacting with each other. Practical implications – Meaningful gender equality will not be achieved unless and until the more sophisticated forms of female exclusion are revealed and deconstructed. Originality/value – This research makes an unusual and crucial contribution to the study of gender, men and masculinities by providing longitudinal, rich, detailed data, observing men at the closest of quarters and then analysed by a feminist and poststructuralist gaze.

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