Masculinity: Contextualizing and Historicizing the Debate

Sushma Sinha

Abstract: The paper provides an overview of definitional aspects and major debates on masculinity. There is also an attempt to historicize and contextualize the debates. In doing this it focuses on the emergence of masculinity studies as a separate field and addresses the question of why do we need to engage with men and boys in order to ensure gender equality.

Keywords: Gender, Patriarchy, masculinity, sex role, socialization