American manhood : transformations in masculinity from the Revolution to the modern era

In the first comprehensive history of American manhood, E. Anthony Rotundo sweeps away the groundless assumptions and myths that inform the current fascination with men's lives. Opposing the views of men's movement leaders and best-selling authors who maintain that manliness is eternal and unchanging, Rotundo stresses that our concept of manhood is man-made and that, like any human invention, it has a history. American Manhood is a fascinating account of how our understanding of what it means to be a man has changed over time. The First History Of American Manhood This Book Sweeps Away The Groundless Assumptions And Myths That Inform The Current Fascination With Men's Lives. Who Is A Real Man? What Is Naturally Male? How Does A Manly Man Act? Opposing The Views Of Men's Movement Leaders And Bestselling Authors, Who Maintain That Manliness Is Eternal And Unchanging, E. Anthony Rotundo Stresses That Our Concept Of Manhood Is Man-made; And Like Any Human Invention, It Has A History. Rotundo Traces The Drastic Shifts In The Meaning Of Masculinity That Have Occurred Over The Past Two Centuries, And Presents A Radically Different Portrait Of Manhood In Earlier Times. Two Hundred Years Ago, For Example, Men Were Considered More Sexually Restrained Than Women. The Word Competitive Did Not Exist Then, And The Word Effeminate, Until A Century Ago, Referred To A Fondness For Luxury.^ Also In The Nineteenth Century, Men Often Wrote Each Other Love Letters - Even Such Famous Americans As Alexander Hamilton And Daniel Webster. American Manhood Argues That A Revolution In Our Understanding Of Masculinity Has Occurred Twice Over The Last Two Hundred Years. In Colonial America, Communal Manhood--emphasizing Social Bonds And A Man's Place At The Head Of The Household - Dominated Men's Lives. But At The Dawn Of The Nineteenth Century A New Self-made Manhood Emerged, Stressing Competition And Fusing Man's Identity To The Workplace. A Second Revolution Occurred In The Twentieth Century As Passionate Manhood, Based On Aggression, Combativeness, And Sexual Desire, Became The Ideal.^ Speaking Directly To The Contemporary Dilemmas Of American Masculinity, Rotundo Brilliantly Analyzes The Moral And Psychological Paradoxes Of Becoming A Man, Discussing The Bonds Between Mothers And Sons As Well As Fathers And Sons; The Origins Of An Idealized Athleticism; The Worship Of Heroic Entrepreneurs; Patterns Of Love, Marriage, And Sexuality; And The Roots Of Disdain For Male Homosexuality. The Book Also Reveals How Changing Concepts Of Manhood Helped To Define The Character Of Many Important Modern American Institutions, From Higher Education To Sports To Politics. Here Is A Fascinating Account Of How Our Understanding Of What It Means To Be A Man Has Changed Over Time. Community To Individual: The Transformation Of Manhood At The Turn Of The Nineteenth Century -- Boy Culture -- Male Youth Culture -- Youth And Male Intimacy -- The Development Of Men's Attitudes Toward Women -- Love, Sex, And Courtship -- Marriage -- Work And Identity -- The Male Culture Of The Workplace -- Passionate Manhood: A Changing Standard Of Masculinity -- Roots Of Change: The Women Without And The Woman Within -- Manhood In The Twentieth Century. E. Anthony Rotundo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [299]-364) And Index. The first history of American manhood this book sweeps away the groundless assumptions and myths that inform the current fascination with men's lives. Who is a "real man"? What is "naturally" male? How does a "manly" man act? Opposing the views of men's movement leaders and bestselling authors, who maintain that manliness is eternal and unchanging, E. Anthony Rotundo stresses that our concept of manhood is man-made; and like any human invention, it has a history. Rotundo traces the drastic shifts in the meaning of masculinity that have occurred over the past two centuries, and presents a radically different portrait of manhood in earlier times. Two hundred years ago, for example, men were considered more sexually restrained than women. The word "competitive" did not exist then, and the word "effeminate," until a century ago, referred to a fondness for luxury. Also in the nineteenth century, men often wrote each other love letters - even such famous Americans as Alexander Hamilton and Daniel Webster. American Manhood argues that a revolution in our understanding of masculinity has occurred twice over the last two hundred years. In colonial America, "communal manhood" - emphasizing social bonds and a man's place at the head of the household - dominated men's lives. But at the dawn of the nineteenth century a new "self-made manhood" emerged, stressing competition and fusing man's identity to the workplace. A second revolution occurred in the twentieth century as "passionate manhood," based on aggression, combativeness, and sexual desire, became the ideal. Speaking directly to the contemporary dilemmas of American masculinity, Rotundo brilliantly analyzes the moral and psychological paradoxes of becoming a man, discussing the bonds between mothers and sons as well as fathers and sons; the origins of an idealized athleticism; the worship of heroic entrepreneurs; patterns of love, marriage, and sexuality; and the roots of disdain for male homosexuality. The book also reveals how changing concepts of manhood helped to define the character of many important modern American institutions, from higher education to sports to politics. Here is a fascinating account of how our understanding of what it means to be a man has changed over time Frontmatter Preface (page IX) Introduction: Toward a History of American Manhood (page 1) 1 Community to Individual: The Transformation of Manhood at the Turn of the Nineteenth Century (page 10) 2 Boy Culture (page 31) 3 Male Youth Culture (page 56) 4 Youth and Male Intimacy (page 75) 5 The Development of Men's Attitudes toward Women (page 92) 6 Love, Sex, and Courtship (page 109) 7 Marriage (page 129) 8 Work and Identity (page 167) 9 The Male Culture of the Workplace (page 194) 10 Passionate Manhood: A Changing Standard of Masculinity (page 222) 11 Roots of Change: The Women Without and the Woman Within (page 247) Epilogue: Manhood in the Twentieth Century (page 284) Appendix: The Parameters of the Study (page 294) Notes (page 299) Index (page 365) ANYONE who tries to learn about manhood before 1800 encounters a world of meaning far different from that of the twentieth century.