Overview
- Analyzes everyday bromance to draw unique insights into wider sexual relations
- Draws on empirical research and interdisciplinary areas across Social Sciences
- Accessibly engages with inclusive masculinity theory
Access this book
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Other ways to access
Table of contents (13 chapters)
Keywords
About this book
Unraveling the stereotype that men’s friendships are unemotional and shallow, this book provides the first detailed account of the bromance that exists among young men. Drawing on one year of ethnography and 20 in-depth interviews among a university sport team, the authors show that these men reject traditional masculine boundaries, instead prioritizing an emotional and tactile form of friendship. Chapters detail the cultural shift in society’s views on bromances, showing that bromances exists as an elevated, more emotional and intimate form of friendship, existing as a further positive consequence of decreasing cultural homophobia. By focusing on sport—which has traditionally been seen as a homophobic environment with toxic constructions of manhood—the authors show that even in the most traditionally masculine of settings, young men are rethinking what male friendship looks like, what it means to be a man, and the positive impact this can have on their mental health.
This book will be relevant to a number of audiences including scholars and students in masculinity studies, queer studies, and friendship studies; LGBTQ+ activists and allies with interest in straight men’s friendships and sports cultures; and men’s mental health advocates.
Reviews
The precipitous decline in homophobia among straight men has enabled old forms of male sociability to re-emerge. Even among that most masculine of activities - sports - "bromances" can blossom into emotionally sustaining friendships. This is the first serious study of the bromance, revealing a more complex picture of men's emotional lives.
Michael Kimmel, former Professor of Sociology, Stony Brook University, USA
"Could it be that modern male friendships are evolving? The question implies an obvious answer, but there’s been surprisingly little cultural dialogue about how men’s friendships are changing—until now. Robinson and Anderson present the “bromance” as a serious and legitimate topic of inquiry. Rigorous yet also accessible, this book will change the way you think about masculinity, identity, intimacy, and friendship."
Amin Ghaziani, Professor of Sociology and Canada Research Chair in Urban Sexualities, University of British Columbia, Canada
“Built on a bedrock of research showing a dramatic shift to men's friendships, and supported by both ethnography and interviews, Bromance illustrates the beauty of modern love between heterosexual men.”
Mark McCormack, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre for Equality, Justice and Social Change, University of Roehampton, UK
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Stefan Robinson completed his PhD on the study of Men and Masculinities at the University of Winchester, UK. He has published works across a range of topics and publishers and is currently working to develop robust and meaningful public policy in UK Local Government.
Eric Anderson is the leading authority on the changing nature of heterosexual men’s masculinities, and is currently Professor of Sport, Masculinities and Sexualities at the University of Winchester, UK. He has published over 20 books and nearly 100 peer-reviewed research articles related to sport, masculinities, and sexualities.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Bromance
Book Subtitle: Male Friendship, Love and Sport
Authors: Stefan Robinson, Eric Anderson
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98610-0
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham
eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-98609-4Published: 30 April 2022
eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-98610-0Published: 29 April 2022
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XI, 278
Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations, 3 illustrations in colour
Topics: Queer Studies, Sociology of Sport and Leisure, Sport Science , Gender Studies, Clinical Psychology