The Cultural Myth of Masculinity

This volume shows how masculinity is a socially constructed entity with a definition that has evolved over time. Masculine icons/heroes and methods of male socialization allow for contextual examination of specific time periods, which is necessary to understand the concept of Western masculinity. The volume presents two masculinities, representing the aristocracy and the warrior class notions of how to be a man, that have vied for dominance throughout most of Western culture.