“<i>Manhood Impossible</i> is a thoughtfully conceived, well-written, and engaging book that speaks and adds to the literature on men, manhood, and masculinity. Melzer offers analysis grounded in rich description in this fresh addition to the field.” - Matthew B. Ezzell (associate professor of sociology at James Madison University) “<i>Manhood Impossible</i> provides astute sociological insight into how men struggle to resuscitate their feelings of masculinity and access the exclusive dominion of manhood. With its intriguing case studies, accessible writing style, and ethnographic slant, this is an excellent book that students and scholars are sure to love.” - Kristen Barber (author of Styling Masculinity: Gender, Class, and Inequality in the Men's Grooming Industry) "Stay-at-Home Dads Are Reshaping American Masculinity," by Ashley Fetters (The Atlantic) "How Men Sabotage Themselves: And what entrepreneurs can do about it," QA with Scott Melzer (One37pm) "Recommended." (Choice) "Grounded in fieldwork, nicely written, and engaged with feminist research." (Gender & Society) "<i>Manhood Impossible</i> furthers the literature on gender and masculinity studies. It also contributes to the body of research on the sociology of the body and the sociology of the family." (American Journal of Sociology) "Why more men are becoming stay-at-home dads" (CNBC)
Introduction: The Manhood Dilemma
Part I The Body Dilemma
1 Ritual Violence in a Two-Car Garage
2 Fighting Back
3 Seeking Growth: The Penis Health Club
4 Compensating for Body Failures
Part II The Breadwinner Dilemma
5 Non-Breadwinners: Unemployed Men and Stay-at-home Dads
6 Unemployment Blues and Backlash
7 Redefining Manhood: Stay-at-home Dads as Real Men
Part III The Future of the Manhood Dilemma
Conclusion: Making Manhood Possible
Appendix: Studying Men and Manhood
Acknowledgments