Call for Papers. Theories. Practices and Representations of Masculinities

Call for Papers

AGH Studia Humanistyczne. Contributions to Humanities 2/2026

Special Issue: Theories, Practices, and Representations of Masculinity

Guest Editors: Urszula Kluczyńska-Durczak, Ph.D., Krzysztof Arcimowicz, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor

Managing Editor: Marcin Baumann

 

Studies on men and masculinities emerged as a complement to women’s studies. Their aim was not to adopt an androcentric perspective, but to examine male experiences embedded in sociocultural, economic, and historical contexts. Changes in men and masculinity are linked to the dynamics of gender relations. Men’s identity is woven from many elements - configured in various ways - such as age, education, occupation, religion, nationality, race, physical ability, sexuality, attitudes toward the body, and family relationships. Even just a few of the categories listed above, taken as examples, demonstrate the potential for the emergence of further, overlapping, and intersecting areas of research. Scholars whose research interests lie in the field of critical studies of men and masculinities (CSMM) acknowledge that there is no single ahistorical, acultural, or adiscursive masculinity. They distance themselves from treating male identity as a monolith, while emphasizing the multiplicity and diversity of masculinities.

As the field of CSMM has developed, numerous theories, terms, and categories have been formulated. As a result, a conceptual framework has emerged that allows for the description of gender relations, including those between men. The best-known and most prominent theoretical concept regarding masculinity and gender was developed by Raewyn W. Connell (1995). The assumptions of this theory have been subject to criticism (e.g., Donaldson 1993; Whitehead 1999; Demetriou 2001; Hearn 2004; Howson 2005) and subsequently revised (Connell, Messerschmitt 2005). Connell’s analyses contributed to the emergence of further theoretical proposals, descriptive tools, and research on men’s identities. Among the theories currently used and discussed are, among others: the theory of inclusive masculinity (Anderson 2009), the concept of hybrid masculinities (Bridges, Pascoe 2014), the theory of caring masculinities (Elliott 2015), and the concept of open and closed masculinities (Elliott 2020a, 2020b). The wealth of achievements in the field of masculinity studies not only provides theoretical frameworks and tools for multifaceted and multi-contextual analyses of masculinity but also opens space for discussion and redefinition.

For this volume, we invite submissions that analyze social practices and cultural representations of masculinity, as well as the application of theory in research. We also encourage critical reflection on dominant theoretical concepts related to masculinity.

We propose exploring the following issues, which we view as guiding principles, while expressing our openness and curiosity regarding the search for new avenues of analysis within the framework of CSMM:

♦ Theories of masculinity in research. Examples of their application, reinterpretation, and critique.

♦ Practices of masculinity in research. New areas, transformations, and interpretations.

♦ Representations and (re)constructions of masculinity in mass media and popular culture (e.g., sports media coverage, neo-serials, streaming productions).

♦ New media and the manosphere as spaces for (re)defining masculinity.

♦ Intersectional and postcolonial perspectives in research on men and masculinity.

♦ Caring masculinities: care, friendship, intimacy, emotions.

♦ Hybridization of masculinity.

♦ Men, their bodies, health, and sexuality.

 

Important Dates

Submission deadline: September 15, 2026

Please submit texts in Polish or English, up to 20 pages in length (including an abstract and bibliography), to the platform of the journal “Studia Humanistyczne AGH. Społeczeństwo. Kultura. Technologia” (https://journals.agh.edu.pl/human/instrukcja-zglaszania-tekstow )

Articles should be prepared according to the guidelines provided on the journal’s website (https://journals.agh.edu.pl/human/en/wytyczne-edytorskie ) and using the template available at https://journals.agh.edu.pl/human/libraryFiles/downloadPublic/42 

Volume editors:

♦ Urszula Kluczyńska-Durczak, Ph.D.: ulaklu@wp.pl

♦ Krzysztof Arcimowicz, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor: krzysiek@uwb.edu.pl

 

Bibliography:

Anderson, Eric. 2009. Inclusive masculinity: the changing nature of masculinities. New York: Routledge.

Beasley, Christine. 2008. “Rethinking hegemonic masculinity in a globalized world.” Men and Masculinities 11(1): 86-103.

Bridges, Tristan i C. J. Pascoe. 2014. “Hybrid masculinities: New directions in the sociology of men and masculinities.” Sociology Compass 8(3): 246-258. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12134

Connell, Raewyn W. 1995. Masculinities. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.

Demetriou, Demetrakis Z. 2001. “Connell's concept of hegemonic masculinity: A critique.” Theory & Society 30(3): 337-361. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017596718715

Donaldson, Mike. 1993. “What is hegemonic masculinity.”  Theory & Society 22(5): 643-657. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993540

Elliott, Karla. 2015. “Caring masculinities: Theorizing an emerging concept.” Men and Masculinities 12: 1–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X15576203

Elliott, Karla. 2020a. “Bringing in margin and centre: ‘Open’ and ‘closed’ as concepts for considering men and masculinities.” Gender, Place & Culture 27(12): 1723-1744. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2020.1715348

Elliott, Karla. 2020b. Young Men Navigating Contemporary Masculinities. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.

Hearn, Jeff. 2004. “From hegemonic masculinity to the hegemony of men.” Feminist Theory 5(1): 49-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1464700104040813

Howson, Richard. 2005. Challenging hegemonic masculinity. Londyn: Routledge.

Whitehead, Stephen. 1999. “Hegemonic masculinity revised.” Gender, Work and Organization 6(1): 58-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0432.00069