Man Up: Surviving Modern Masculinity

by Jack Urwin

'Jack Urwin writes like he speaks: accessible, funny and interesting. His Vice article got people talking and now, almost two years on, he is right in thinking that the time for a big discussion about masculinity has arrived.' Telegraph

WHAT DOES MASCULINITY ADD UP TO IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

Jack Urwin traces modern ideas of masculinity from the inability of older generations to deal with the horrors of war, to the mob mentality of football terraces or Fight Club and the disturbing rise of mental health problems among men - especially young men - today.

While we struggle with the idea that there is a single version of masculinity worth aspiring to, depression and suicide among men have reached unprecedented levels. Man Up looks at the challenges and pressures on men today, and suggests ways to survive.

• ISBN10: 1785780697
• ISBN13: 9781785780691
• Publish Date: 2 June 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 3 February 2017
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: Icon Books
• Format: Paperback (UK Trade)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[celinenyx]

A heart-felt plea for dealing with one of the most damaging aspect of masculinity: its influence on the many men that commit suicide. Jack Urwin argues that only by seeing masculinity as something broader can we improve the lives of men - by opening up, having emotionally honest conversations, and admitting to needing help.

This book is very much influenced by modern feminist thought, and it was refreshing to read about masculinity in a way that is compatible with female equality. Some sections especially reminded me of a few of my male friends, which underpins the book's social relevance to me. I think Urwin has chosen to cover important topics (including consent, abuse, and aggression) in an accessible manner.

I don't agree with everything he writes - his emphasis on the need for a father figure for boys comes a bit too closely to biological determinism. Why do boys necessarily need a (strong?) male figure to 'inspire' them? Do boys without a clear father figure grow up 'lacking'? Can a a woman not play this role?

Additionally, I feel this book could occasionally benefit from professional psychological insight, as it deals with mental health, and I feel these sections could be more in-depth. Yet I think Urwin's argument is formulated clearly enough to be incredibly useful to many people, and I hope it highlights the problematic nature of masculinity to people who might not come into contact with this kind of material in other ways.