American Male: A Penetrating Look at the Masculinity Crisis

First published in 1967, The American Male explores broad social patterns and major societal trends as they affect men in America. The author argues that American men are burdened by an outdated code of masculinity that stifles their personalities and limits their ability to enjoy life at every significant level. This explosive theme is based on two years of research involving men from various social and economic backgrounds, as well as extensive interviews with psychiatrists and other experts in the psycho-sociological fields.

According to the American ideal of masculinity, a man is expected to be the strong, silent type who keeps his problems to himself and dominates his woman with an iron hand. This often results in a lack of deep human connection, as men are taught to suppress feelings of tenderness and warmth. Focused on their work with single-minded intensity, many men become strangers in their own homes. Additionally, they are often bewildered by the sexual revolution, which has brought greater equality for women. The book examines how the contemporary male can navigate these contradictions, overcome his emotional rigidity and fear of commitment, and approach life with greater flexibility and emotional responsiveness. This crucially important work will interest scholars and researchers in gender studies, the sociology of gender, and sociology in general.