Male Bodies and Sexual Difference

This book addresses themes concerning male bodies, men and masculinities from an explicit feminist philosophical position, drawing from various fields, including phenomenology, gender theory, sociology of the body and continental philosophy, among others. Whereas the majority of works in the field of critical studies on men and masculinities draw predominantly on gender and queer theories, this book works from within the sexual difference theory as developed by feminist philosopher Luce Irigaray. As such, it proposes a conceptual sketch for a different understanding of the complex relationships between “male bodies”, “men” and “masculinities”, making use of Gilles Deleuze’s radical notion of “critique” and arguing, at the same time, for a post-Deleuzean concept of “becoming-man” from the philosophy of sexual difference perspective.

The book represents a contribution to the interpretations of Luce Irigaray’s rich work, as well as to the fields of masculinities studies and feminist philosophy, and it is written primarily for scholars and students in cultural studies, women and gender studies, sexuality studies, and philosophy.