Masculinity [Paperback]

Warren Steinberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 1993

What is a man? The model offered by family and culture too often leaves men with a feeling of "not measuring up." The result can be a host of psychological problems that become roadblocks on the path to the state of maturity and wholeness that C. G. Jung called individuation.

Warren Steinberg sees these perils on the path as opportunities to go beneath conventional models and to gain a deep understanding of masculinity—one that includes traditional masculine qualities along with recognition and acceptance of the anima, or a man's inner feminine. Using dreams, myths, and the experiences of actual men, he demonstrates how this inner balance can be the key to establishing a free and strong masculinity.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The women's movement has also benefited men, in that now men too are free to question the limitations placed on them by gender roles. Consequently, quite a number of books dealing with the issue of what it means to be a male are available today. Steinberg makes a significant contribution to this literature by approaching the issue as Jungian. He argues that a boy distinguishes between a masculine and a feminine gender role and that he needs to be secure in the masculine role as defined by his culture. The time will come when he needs to break out of the role's limits, yet not all men do. Steinberg enlivens the discussion with real case histories, dreams, and myths. His book is easy to read, although it is not completely on the popular level. Recommended as a serious contribution to the literature on male development.
- John Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New York
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Warren Steinberg, Ph.D., is a Jungian analyst in private practice in New York City. He is also the author of The Circle of Care. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala; 1st edition (October 26, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877736200
• ISBN-13: 978-0877736202
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,380,620 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars shallow, December 31, 2007

By 

Michael J. Smith - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Masculinity: Identity, Conflict, and Transformation (Paperback)

This book was highly disappointing. Except for a fascinating second chapter, the rest of the story is one of shallowness. You wonder if this guy is really a Jungian or not.

The second chapter is about male to male competition, and the author uses some evidence that is truly fascinating. He cites studies done on other males in the animal kingdom, and comapares it to research on human males. What seems to be certain is that competition has a dramatic effect on male narcissism. There is a heightened sense of self in the course of victory, and we see how it is critical for fathers to relate well to their sons over issues of conflict so that the child's self esteem is not damaged.

The rest of the book I cannot vouch for. He focuses strictly on the persona and the development of masculine attitudes and behavior that conforms to traditional cultural standards. You come away thinking that masculinity is just about the persona, and that there is nothing to being a man except coming to some kind of resolution of what society expects of you. Moreover, this author does not have a good grasp of Jungian concepts. He explicitly says that the concept of Logos is not sufficient and is short sighted, that it is erroneous to come up with one word to explain masculinity. He forgets that the notion of Logos is very nebulous, and encompasses many aspects of the mind. Ironically, Steinberg makes the very mistake that he accuses Jung and other psychologists of: namely, coming up with a simple definition of masculinity. He limits masculinity to being an instrumental/active process, which he says is what society has traditionally assigned to masculinity. In effect, all he has done is regurgitate the lessons of society, shallow ones at that, and has not added anything to our understanding of masculinity.

It is much more interesting to read some of Joseph Conrad's fiction and contemplate their implications as to what manhood in the modern era is about. Steinberg is not for those who like to challenge conventional values and thoughts.