Investigating the relational aspects of masculinity, this volume describes how different masculinities are moulded within diverse structures and settings. It explores how men interact with each other and how they collectively react to and embody changing concepts of masculinity.

Contents: Foreword, Michael Kimmel; Introduction, Søren Ervø and Thomas Johansson; Men, gender and the state, R.W. Connell; A theory of gender, patriarchy and capitalism, Øystein GullvÃ¥g Holter; The emancipation from gender: a critique of the Utopias of postmodern gender theory, Mikael Carleheden; Beautiful men, fine women and good work people: gender and skill in Northern Sweden 1850-1950, Ella Johansson; Masculine sport and masculinity in Denmark at the turn of the century, Hans Bonde; Masculinity and the north, Lena Eskilsson; Modern masculinities? Continuities, challenges and changes in men’s lives, Michael Meuser; Technology and masculinity: men and their machines, Ulf Mellström; Contingency and desire: the ritual construction of masculinity in a right-wing political youth organization, Philip Lalander; A death mask of masculinity: the brotherhood of Norwegian right-wing skinheads, Katrine Fangen; Fathering, masculinity and parental relationships, Victor Jeleniewski Seidler; Men’s lack of family orientation: some reflections on Scandinavian research on families, Christian Kullberg; Fatherhood and masculinity: non-resident fathers’ construction of identity, Thomas Johansson; Masculinity and paranoia in Strindberg’s 'The Father', Jørgen Lorentzen; Phallic lovers, non-phallic lovers: stereotyped masculinities in women’s novels of the 1970s, Helena Wahlström; Fathers - the solution or part of the problem? Single mothers, their sons and social work, Thomas Johansson; Index.