Men’s Friendships as Feminist Politics?

Exploring the intersection of men's friendships and feminist theories, Men’s Friendships as Feminist Politics? reveals the complexities of male bonding.

This book explores the intricate dynamics of men's friendships through the lens of queer, discursive, and intersectional feminist theories. It delves into various aspects of friendship, including its temporalities, gendered ideals, and the political dimensions that emerge in male interactions. By examining how friendships are constructed and performed, the author sheds light on the complexities of male bonding and its implications for feminist discourse.

Men’s Friendships as Feminist Politics? analyzes personal narratives surrounding intimacy, touch, and conversation among middle-class Swedish men who are either engaged with or sympathetic to feminist ideals. These stories are contextualized within broader discussions of contemporary masculinity, political activism, and the challenge of reconciling friendships with heteronormative expectations. The author uses individual and dyadic interviews to illustrate how various ideologies, including gender equality and individualism, shape the friendships and political engagements of these men.

The book bridges feminist research and the study of friendship, revealing the tensions that exist within pro-feminist men's political projects and contemporary masculine identities. By addressing these contradictions, Men’s Friendships as Feminist Politics? contributes to our understanding of how friendships can serve as sites of political engagement and personal transformation in the context of evolving gender norms.