Authored by Raewyn Connell and translated by Nguyen Thi Minh, this book initiates academic and social dialogue on critical questions: how is masculinity constructed, how does it function, and in what directions can it evolve within the current crisis of gender order?

In everyday life, masculinity is often perceived as an inherent biological trait of men. However, modern gender studies reveal it is not a fixed, pre-existing entity but a social construct. It is shaped by various factors: labor, education, military service, sports, sexuality, violence, and forms of bodily care and discipline.

Building on this understanding, Connell proposes a groundbreaking approach. The central research question shifts from "What is a man?" to "How do specific individuals become men, within particular social contexts, and with what consequences?". This reframing highlights the simultaneous existence of diverse masculinities, each linked to class, race, sexual orientation, labor conditions, and specific power structures.

The book 'Masculinities' was published by Vietnam Women's Publishing House in March. Photo: Publisher provided

The book is structured into two main parts. Part one, "Knowledge and its Problems", establishes the theoretical foundation. Part two, "Four Studies of Masculine Dynamics", analyzes how individuals "become men" across various contexts: family, school, the workplace, and popular culture. Connell avoids generalizations about "masculinity", instead emphasizing the simultaneous existence of multiple masculinities that constantly interact and define one another.

The final section, "History and Politics", expands the analysis, showing that modern masculinities are products of specific economic and political conditions, intertwined with capitalism, the modern state, and the global gender order. This perspective transforms masculinity from a private individual concern into a political issue.

Raewyn Connell, the author, is an emeritus professor at the University of Sydney, Australia, and a foundational figure in masculinity studies. Her work, 'Masculinities', is the most cited in the field. She previously held professorships at Macquarie University in Australia and the University of California, Santa Cruz, in the US. Connell has also advised initiatives for UNESCO and the United Nations, focusing on gender equality and peacebuilding.

Nguyen Thi Minh, the translator, is a lecturer in the Department of Literature at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. Her primary research interests include comparative literature, film adaptation from gender studies, and semiotics. She actively participates in programs promoting gender studies in Vietnam. Minh has translated several notable works, including 'Antigone's Claim' by Judith Butler, 'A History of the Breast' and 'A History of the Wife' by Marilyn Yalom, and 'Key Concepts in Gender Studies' by Jane Pilcher & Imelda Whelehan.

Phuong Linh