The Center for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality and Ammachi Labs organized an expert guest lecture on the topic “Why Study Men and Masculinities? And with what implication for academia and science?” on October 29, 2020.
No. of Participants : 24
Dr. Jeff Hearn, Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies affiliated to Örebro University, Sweden; Professor of Sociology, University of Huddersfield, UK; Professor Emeritus, Hanken School of Economics, Finland; Professor Extraordinarius, University of South Africa; honorary doctor, Lund University, Sweden.
Dr. Hearn’s research has been involved in activism, policy development and research over many years, in Europe and beyond, including long associations with South Africa. His research focuses on gender, sexuality, violence, work, organisations, management, social policy, and transnational processes. He is co-managing editor, Routledge Advances in Feminist Studies and Intersectionality book series; co-editor, NORMA: The International Journal for Masculinity Studies; Co-chair, RINGS: The International Research Association of Institutions of Advanced Gender Studies. Recent books include Men of the World, 2015, Sage; Revenge Pornography, with Matthew Hall, 2017; Engaging Youth in Activism, Research and Pedagogical Praxis, co-ed., 2018; Unsustainable Institutions of Men, co-ed., 2019; all three Routledge; and Age at Work, with Wendy Parkin, Sage, 2020.
Dr. Hearn sought to contextualize and justify the study of men and masculinities as a sub-field of gender studies. In addition to the necessary and preeminent focus given to women in gender studies, we must also include the study of men. Not as a replacement, and not to put men at the centre of the universe (as that has already been done for millennia); rather, provide a holistic view of human experience and explanation of gender in society—which includes both men and women (and non-binary). This is extremely relevant in the discussion of gender equality, as men are typically in the position of power and dominance, and there are social structures which perpetuate and reinforce this process. The roots of gender violence, sexual assault, and a number of other social ills that are frequently studied along with gender can benefit from the study of men and masculinities.
