Together with my dear colleague, Katarzyna Suwada, I would like to invite you, dear sociologists, critical men and masculinities’ scholars as well as everyone else interested in sociology of masculinities, to join us in August in Manchester at the 14th European Sociological Associaton conference, where we would like to discuss the situation of men and condition of masculinities in a changing Europe.

In recent years two major trends linked to the transformation of masculinities can be observed in European societies. On the one hand, researchers recognise significant changes in both models of masculinities and male gender roles. These changes have been followed by a switch in public discourses and politics focused on men and boys (Scambor at al. 2014). Moreover, one can identify a flourishing number of grass-roots initiatives oriented on men and gender equality (Wojnicka 2016). Yet, on the other hand, Europe is also facing a crisis of liberal democracy, which affects the value of gender equality, and in some regions a re-traditionalisation of gender roles becomes excessively visible. Far-right groups, dominated by men, are gaining greater popularity by attacking (male) immigrants and refugees coming from other parts of the world. Such trends are connected to the resurrection of hegemonic and toxic forms of masculinities. They also create new forms of marginalised masculinities.

Therefore, the aim of our Research Stream is to address the issues connected to various models of masculinities and power relations between genders.Possible issues include, but are not limited to:
• The role of men in gender equality in European societies and directions for future action.
• Progressive politics or re-traditionalisation: what factors influence certain trends?
• The role of intersectionality in the analysis of contemporary masculinities / power relations in
Europe – are we missing something (class and race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality or age)?
• Theoretical and methodological implications for critical studies on men and masculinities.

Detailed CFP can be found at ESA website. The deadline for abstract submission is on 1st February 2019.