Sticky Masculinity: Post-structuralism, Phenomenology and Subjectivity in Critical Studies on Men

Despite the consolidation of "critical studies on men'' or "masculinity studies'' in recent years, critics have pointed to a kind of feminist theory deficit due to the relative lack of engagement with contemporary developments of feminist theory. By focusing on post-structuralist feminist and feminist phenomenological accounts of subjectivity, this article seeks to contribute to the emerging body of work that brings such theories into critical studies onmen. I argue that making use of these perspectives is not only a matter of replacing dominant theories, but rather offers possibilities for creative rereading of earlier work on masculinity, which may not have been sufficiently appreciated from the viewpoint of dominant structural perspectives. My argument proceeds through a reading of John Stoltenberg as a post-structuralist feminist, and a reading of Victor Seidler as a feminist phenomenologist. I suggest that the study of masculinity can benefit from both traditions, and as an example I consider Jonathan Salisbury's and David Jackson's work on "boys' work.'' Drawing in particular on Sara Ahmed's innovative combination of post-structuralism and phenomenology, I suggest an understanding of masculinity as "sticky.''