Dear SMU Community,
The archetypal ideal man is often understood to be strong, stoic, and financially successful, but where does this leave other men? As gender norms shift and expectations for men change, society is confronted with the age-old question of what it means to be a man. Does the notion of masculinity also encompass men who choose to be stay-at-home fathers; embrace traditionally “feminine” career paths; or embrace their emotions?
This month, SMU Libraries provide a selection of resources discussing what masculinity means in the contemporary context, and how pre-existing gender constructs affect and influence the lives of men around the world.