What It Means To Be A Man: Reflections on Puerto Rican Masculinity [Paperback]

Rafael L. Ramirez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

Rafael L. Ramfrez presents an insightful examination of Puerto Rican culture and the ways in which Puerto Rican masculinity is constructed.


What It Means to Be a Man begins with a discussion of machismo set in the context of the social construction of masculinity. Ramfrez presents his interpretation of what it means to be a Puerto Rican man, discussing the attributes and demands of masculinity, and pointing out the ways in which strength, competition, and sexuality are joined with power and pleasure. He examines the erotic relationships between men as part of the expressions of masculinity, and analyzes how the homosexual experience reproduces the dominant masculine ideology. Finally, Ramfrez draws on the literature of the recent men's movements, offering Puerto Rican men the possibility of constructing a new masculinity, liberated from power games, to provide them with a chance to not only be better understood by others, but also to better understand themselves and their place in society.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

First published in Spanish in 1993, Ramrezs exploration of power and masculinity among Puerto Rican men focuses on four major points: deconstruction of the term machismo; analysis of the meanings of masculinity; exploration of what it means to be a Puerto Rican male; and el ambiente, or the homosexual community in Puerto Rico. Each of the four issues is treated in a single chapter, and a final chapter deals with the construction of a new masculinity. Ramrez (anthropology, Univ. of Puerto Rico) concludes that the process of change is a challenge that prior researchers have not solved, but he fails to propose his own solution. Based on current research in Puerto Rico and the United States, his findings are important given the large Puerto Rican community in this country. Although Ramrezs work treats a narrow topic, his book is a significant contribution to ethnic sociology. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries.Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"First rate! Ramirez critically reviews an impressive anthropological and social science literature on masculinity and male sexualities, applying what's best and critiquing the rest. He probes the politics of representation and engages in a sophisticated practice of cultural reflexivity." - Roger N. Lancaster, director of Cultural Studies, George Mason University. -- Roger N. Lancaster

"What It Means to Be a Man stands as an important contribution to gender studies by opening the field to the analysis of masculine identities. Ramirez combines the insight and sensitivity of an insider to Puerto Rican culture with the skill and acumen of one of the important anthropologists of his generation to suggest new approaches to understanding masculinity in Puerto Rico and more widely." - From the foreword by Peter J. Guarnaccia, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University. -- Peter Guarnaccia

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813526612
• ISBN-13: 978-0813526614
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,202,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars good subject, but kinda tedious, July 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: What It Means To Be A Man: Reflections on Puerto Rican Masculinity (Paperback)

Ramirez explores the academic literature on Latino machismo, especially as it affects Puerto Rico. He questions the underpinnings of this concept and asks if it depends upon class or is an Anglocentric, racist projection. Those interested in Puerto Rican studies should purchase this book. However, it was somewhat boring and overly sociological. It's far slower than Mirande's "Hombres y Machos" and far weaker than Gonzalez' "Muy Macho". The chapter on male homosexuality seemed entirely stolen from other academics. I'm a big fan of men's studies books and yet I wasn't quite impressed with this one.