The Representations of the Multiple Masculinities in Kate Atkinson's Life after Life and A God in Ruins
Lindholm, Mia (2021-03-05)
The Representations of the Multiple Masculinities in Kate Atkinson's Life after Life and A God in Ruins
Lindholm, Mia
(05.03.2021)
Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
avoin
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on:
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202104099997
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202104099997
Tiivistelmä
This MA- thesis focuses on the representations of masculinities in Kate Atkinson’s novels
Life after Life (2013) and A God in Ruins (2015) using masculinity and men’s studies as
the theoretical approaches into the analysis. The aim of the study is to show how there
are multiple masculinities and how the patriarchal structuring of society that places men
above women is not beneficial for all men. All men are not equal regarding their
masculinities nor does society appreciate all representations of masculinity equally. In
fact, it is shown how especial.ly traditional masculinity can have negative effects on men
and toxic masculinities on women.
The theoretical background relies significantly on the works of R. W. Connell, as well as
several others that have had an impact on the area of research during the recent years
masculinity and men’s studies has been on the surface. These works provide the
framework for the multiple masculinities examined in the thesis and provide evidence to
the multiplicity of the subject.
Patriarchal society and the limiting and slowly changing molds of masculinities are not
beneficial to women nor men and the structures of society and the environment provided
causes aggression and violence among men. Masculinity and men’s studies remains a
controversial point of study and the study of men needs to be justified still. For these
reasons it is all the more vital that this type of research is done and the attitudes towards
men and masculinities is changed in order to gain equality among men as well as among
men and women.
Life after Life (2013) and A God in Ruins (2015) using masculinity and men’s studies as
the theoretical approaches into the analysis. The aim of the study is to show how there
are multiple masculinities and how the patriarchal structuring of society that places men
above women is not beneficial for all men. All men are not equal regarding their
masculinities nor does society appreciate all representations of masculinity equally. In
fact, it is shown how especial.ly traditional masculinity can have negative effects on men
and toxic masculinities on women.
The theoretical background relies significantly on the works of R. W. Connell, as well as
several others that have had an impact on the area of research during the recent years
masculinity and men’s studies has been on the surface. These works provide the
framework for the multiple masculinities examined in the thesis and provide evidence to
the multiplicity of the subject.
Patriarchal society and the limiting and slowly changing molds of masculinities are not
beneficial to women nor men and the structures of society and the environment provided
causes aggression and violence among men. Masculinity and men’s studies remains a
controversial point of study and the study of men needs to be justified still. For these
reasons it is all the more vital that this type of research is done and the attitudes towards
men and masculinities is changed in order to gain equality among men as well as among
men and women.