Manhood Impossible: Men's Struggles to Control and Transform Their Bodies and Work

by Scott Melzer

In Manhood Impossible , Scott Melzer argues that boys’ and men’s bodies and breadwinner status are the two primary sites for their expression of control. Controlling selves and others, and resisting being dominated and controlled is most connected to men’s bodies and work. However, no man can live up to these culturally ascendant ideals of manhood. The strategies men use to manage unmet expectations often prove toxic, not only for men themselves, but also for other men, women, and society. Melzer strategically explores the lives of four groups of adult men struggling with contemporary body and breadwinner ideals. These case studies uncover men’s struggles to achieve and maintain manhood, and redefine what it means to be a man.  

Genres: Academic, Gender

292 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2018

Reviews

[DW Rowlands · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for potential relevance in a project I have about circumcision and gender. It may be useful as a reference. It was also sort of weird to realize just how alien some things that men apparently consider central to "the male experience" are to me.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like there’s no way I was instructed to read this at Wheaton College. Absolutely awful, do not recommend unless you want to know graphic details or are interested in hearing about men’s primal instincts. Second part wasn’t as bad but my word that was crazy.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manhood Impossible is an excellent read. I'm glad that I read this and was able to see the insights of the research that Scott did and put in this book.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

My girlfriend asked me what my review of this book would be and I said "yeah, it's pretty good I guess." So there you go.