Analysing Masculinity from the Key Theoretical Lenses and Searching for Linkages with Violence against Women

Authors

  • Anisur Rahman Khan East West University, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh
  • Shahriar Khandaker East West University, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh

https://doi.org/10.17583/mcs.2017.2593

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Abstract

In recent years, masculinity has become an imperative and influential academic discourse in the domain of gender studies. Despite having been explained and theorised from a number of perspectives, it lacks overall clarity and vary widely across different social and cultural contexts. Keeping that perspective in mind, this study drawing a rigorous review of the literature and reflexive analysis has synthesized prominent and pertinent theoretical issues concerning masculinity with the objective of having a succinct as well as methodical understanding of masculinity. This study also aims at developing the linkage between masculinity and violence against women. Despite being viewed as a cause of violence against women; theoretical notions of masculinity and its relation with violence against women remain largely understudied. Overall, the findings of the study confirm that masculinity as a concept is expressed through certain socially accepted ideologies and practices and there are at least three major theoretical developments concerning masculinity. When applied, each of these theories can individually stand as a reason for violence against women. The nexus between masculinity and violence against women is very proximate, and masculinity appears to be a very dominating force for perpetuating violence against women. Nonetheless, further wider empirical studies on masculinity and its relation to violence against women can draw new insights on the issues and enrich the gender studies discipline.

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Author Biographies

Anisur Rahman Khan, East West University, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh

Anisur Rahman Khan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Relations, East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He received PhD in Development Administration from National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), Bangkok, Thailand. He also holds MSS in Sociology from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh and MA in Women’s Studies from the University of York, UK. His research interests include issues in sociology of organisation, social policy, social problems and gender studies. He has published widely at national and international level. He is a proven qualitative researcher.    

Shahriar Khandaker, East West University, Dhaka 1212 Bangladesh

Shahriar Khandaker is a faculty member of the Department of Social Relations at East West University, Bangladesh. He holds an MA in Professional Communication from Edith Cowan University, Australia. His main research interests cover topics in health communication as well as social media and society. He teaches courses on communication and media studies at undergraduate level.

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2017-10-21

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Khan, A. R., & Khandaker, S. (2017). Analysing Masculinity from the Key Theoretical Lenses and Searching for Linkages with Violence against Women. Masculinities &Amp; Social Change, 6(3), 257–287. https://doi.org/10.17583/mcs.2017.2593

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