47 pages • 1 hour read
Gail BedermanManliness and Civilization: A Cultural History of Gender and Race in the United States, 1880-1917
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1995A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Manliness and Civilization by Gail Bederman examines the transformation of perceptions of manliness and masculinity in the United States from 1880 to 1917, focusing on how these evolving ideals intersected with race and gender. Through the lives and works of Ida B. Wells, G. Stanley Hall, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Theodore Roosevelt, Bederman explores how white, middle-class men redefined their roles and identities in the context of societal changes. The book contains discussions of graphic violence, lynchings, and other sensitive historical issues.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Gail Bederman's Manliness and Civilization is praised for its nuanced analysis of gender, race, and civilization in late 19th and early 20th-century America. Critics laud its interdisciplinary approach and depth of research. Some find the dense academic language challenging, but most agree it is a vital contribution to gender and cultural studies.
Who Should Read Manliness and Civilization?
Readers who relish critical gender studies, cultural history, and examinations of masculinity and race will find Manliness and Civilization by Gail Bederman compelling. Similar to The Gender Knot by Allan G. Johnson and Masculinity Studies & Feminist Theory by Judith Kegan Gardiner, it appeals to those intrigued by the social construction of manliness.