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Boys will be boys… won’t they?’: Change and continuities in contemporary young working-class masculinities

Roberts, Steven D. (2013) Boys will be boys… won’t they?’: Change and continuities in contemporary young working-class masculinities. Sociology, 47 (4). pp. 671-686. ISSN 0038-0385. (doi:10.1177/0038038512453791) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:34490)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0038038512453791

Abstract

This article contributes to the literature concerning the construction of working-class masculine

identity in a context of unprecedented social transformation. Drawing on qualitative interviews

with 24 young men currently employed in the retail sector, this study finds that contrary to much

research on masculinities young working-class men are able to resist dominant and hegemonic

cultural ideals. The respondents demonstrate a very different attitude towards the ‘emotional

labour’ required in the service sector than is often documented, while also rejecting notions of

traditional gendered domestic responsibilities in respect of their futures as potential partners

and parents. Congruent with other emerging research in this area, the reference point for an

‘acceptable’ masculine identity appears to have shifted, with some young working-class men’s

lives, at least, illustrating an attenuated or softened version of masculinity.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1177/0038038512453791
Uncontrolled keywords: division of labour, employment, masculinities, service sector, working class
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Mita Mondal
Date Deposited: 02 Jul 2013 10:37 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:11 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/34490 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Roberts, Steven D..

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