What is the importance of discussing the concept of masculinities?

Over the last few decades, gender relations have been debated and deconstructed as a result of various feminist contributions. The theme of masculinities has become a crucial point of analysis and reflection: the (re)production of unequal gender norms and standards are, however, relational. In this sense, it is very important to talk about masculinities for feminist and gender studies themselves. After all, how to think about “women” without thinking about “men”, since these identities are relational and intertwined?

It is with this objective that we produced the booklet “Masculinities, Art and Peripheral Powers”. This document seeks to broaden the field of reflection on the subject from discussions that deal with the very concept of masculinity, deepening the understanding of markers of difference, such as what it means to “be a man”, of the processes of production of sexualities through sexual relations. socially imposed norms and standards and the role of art in the construction of other masculinities. Throughout the booklet, the various artistic initiatives that, together with the GlobalGRACE Brasil project team, seek to create new references for thinking about gender, masculinity and sexuality are presented. Thinking about the “I-Body”, and its intimate relationship with the territories, especially with the peripheral territory, suggests possible paths for a more equitable and healthy life in society for all people.

This document contains records of the works of artists who integrated the Brazilian actions of GlobalGRACE: Residência Masculinidades NoBela, Residência Passinho Carioca and ELÃ – Construindo Masculinidades Outros.

The booklet is available for free download in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

GlobalGRACE is a project funded by the Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF/RCUK) that mobilizes artistic interventions to research and enable gender approaches that contribute to well-being internationally and that includes universities and NGOs from Bangladesh, Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines , South Africa and the United Kingdom. In Brazil, it has been developed by the Institute of International Relations at PUC-Rio and the NGOs Promundo, UNIperiferias and Observatório de Favelas, in partnership with CES/Universidade de Coimbra. See more about GlobalGRACE.