What is it about?

In this article we explore and articulate constructions of masculinities among and within the households of construction workers in Sylhet, Bangladesh. These workers – both male, and, to an even greater extent, female workers – are particularly situated in a relatively marginal position within Bangladeshi society in terms of their socio-economic, educational and cultural capital. Based on ethnographic research carried out with 40 female construction workers and 20 male construction workers and husbands of female construction workers in Sylhet, Bangladesh, we investigate constructions of masculinities in a patriarchal context which is undergoing rapid socioeconomic transformations.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Globally, understandings and experiences of masculinity have drawn significant attention and critique, generating lively academic debate and scholarship over the past several decades. However to date there has been relatively little such debate pertaining specifically to constructions and experiences of situated masculinities in Bangladesh. This article goes some way towards filing this lacuna.

Perspectives

We bring a feminist and ethnographic lens to relatively marginal men's and women's lives in Sylhet, Bangladesh. This is fascinating and rich original data.

Suzanne Clisby
Goldsmiths University of London

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Masculinity in Transition or Patriarchy Reasserted? A Study of Construction Workers in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Studies on Home and Community Science, January 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/09737189.2017.1420406.
You can read the full text:

Read

Contributors

The following have contributed to this page