Uncertain Masculinities

<p>In this era of rapid and unsettling change, boys now more than ever face difficulties in establishing their self-image and status. In this original and challenging study Mike O'Donnell and Sue Sharpe explore how teenage boys from white, African-Caribbean and Asian backgrounds negotiate contemporary uncertainties to construct their gender identities.<br><br>Drawing theoretical insights about how class, race and ethnicity critically affect the formulation of masculinities throughout, the authors examine:<br><br>* the discrepancies between boys and girls' attitudes and expectations<br>* the split between boys' formal acceptance of politically correct ideas and their informal behaviour amongst the peer group<br>* boys' leisure pursuits including involvement in illegal activities and their selective identification with global youth culture.<br><br><em>Uncertain Masculinities</em> is a fascinating account of the complexity of contemporary boys' identities and will be of use to students of the sociology of youth and of gender studies.</p> 1. Gender, Race and the Peer Group: The School and Neighbourhood Contexts 2. The Social Construction of Youthful Masculinities: Peer Group Subcultures 3. Marriage, Family and Relationships: Images and Expectations 4. Work: Changing Structures, Changing Opportunities 5. Culture, Leisure and Crime 6. Conclusion