Episode 2 - Theoretical Foundations: How We Think About Masculinity
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (media.transistor.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
In this episode of exploring African masculinity, we ask a fundamental question: how do we think about it?
This episode introduces key ideas and frameworks that shape how masculinity is understood — from hegemonic masculinity to plural masculinities — and why these tools matter when navigating conversations about identity, culture, and change.
Rather than offering answers, this episode focuses on building a way of thinking — one that helps us question assumptions, recognise patterns, and better understand the forces shaping masculinity across African contexts.
Key themes:
- What masculinity is (and isn’t)
- Why theory matters
- The influence of culture, history, and power
- How ideas about masculinity are shaped and circulated
As we move through the season, two questions will guide the conversation:
- What do we lose when we forget our own histories of masculinity?
- What would change look like if it was built from African ways of being men?
📚 References & Further Reading:
- Connell, R.W. & Messerschmidt, J.W. (2005) – Hegemonic Masculinity (Gender & Society)
- Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí – The Invention of Women
- Ifi Amadiume – Male Daughters, Female Husbands
African Men Speak is a long-form podcast exploring African masculinities through lived experience, history, and critical reflection.
Subscribe for more conversations. #AfricanMasculinity #Masculinity #AfricanPodcast #GenderStudies