The Space of ‘Men’ in the Select Novels of Manju Kapur and Jaishree Misra

Abstract

Mens studies examine the status of man in contemporary society. Masculinity is a social construction. It is an interdisciplinary study and works with feminist studies to query the relationship that men have with patriarchal power through different cultures, traditions and historic times.  Freuds hypotheses that masculine and feminist currents coexists in both men and women and that adult sexuality and gender are not fixed by nature but constructed through a long and conflict ridden process. The culture and custom of the countries are varied. Hence, man must be placed in a frame work of the particular culture and tradition. Wedgewood cites mens bodies  explored masculine embodiment as an important link between the construction of masculinity and the social power structure of patriarchy( 331). All men are not granted equal privileges. Masculinity refers to the behaviours, social roles and relations of men within a given society as well as the meanings attributed to them. The term masculinity need not to be confined to biological males. It deals with the diversity of identities, behavior and cannot be universalized.