Theorising Chinese Masculinity

Chinese Masculinities in a Globalizing World

Kam Louie

This book explores how the traditional ideal of Chinese manhood – the "wen" (cultural attainment) and "wu" (martial prowess) dyad – has been transformed by the increasing integration of China in the international scene. It discusses how increased travel and contact between China and the West are having a profound impact; showing how increased interchange with Western men, for whom "wu" is a more significant ideal, has shifted the balance in the classic Chinese dichotomy; and how the huge emphasis on wealth creation in contemporary China has changed the notion of "wen" itself to include business management skills and monetary power. The book also considers the implications of Chinese "soft power" outside China for the reconfigurations in masculinity ideals in the global setting. The rising significance of Chinese culture enables Chinese cultural norms, including ideals of manhood, to be increasingly integrated in the international sphere and to become hybridised. The book also examines the impact of the Japanese and Korean waves on popular conceptions of desirable manhood in China. Overall, it demonstrates that social constructions of Chinese masculinity have changed more fundamentally and become more global in the last three decades than any other time in the last three thousand years.

The Literature of China in the Twentieth Century

Bonnie S. McDougall, Kam Louie

A historical survey of 20th-century Chinese literature, this book chronicles the writers who - continuing in the Chinese tradition of using literature to exert moral, social, and political leadership - debated the nature, development and future of Chinese society.

The Politics of Chinese Language and Culture

The Art of Reading Dragons

Robert Ian Vere Hodge, Kam Louie

This book provides a fresh approach to the study of Chinese language, culture and society. It adopts the tools of cultural studies and applies them to a previously conservative discipline. It uses concepts of social semiotics to extend the ideas of language and reading, covering a range of cultural texts. The authors tackle areas such as grammar, language, gender, popular culture, film and the Chinese diaspora. "The Politics of Chinese Language and Culture" is an engaging, and alternative, means of studying contemporary China. It will help to break down the boundaries around the ideas and identities of East and West and provide a more relevant analysis of the Chinese and China.

Censored by Confucius

Ghost Stories by Yuan Mei

Yuan Mei, Kam Louie, Louise Edwards

"The one hundred-some stories depict the important role ghosts played in the lives of the Chinese, as well as revealing a great deal about sex, revenge, transvestism, corruption, and other topics banned by Mei's puritanical mid-Qing society". -- Reference & Research Book News.

Critiques of Confucius in Contemporary China

Kam Louie

In both the literal and metaphorical senses, it seemed as if 1970s America was running out of gas. The decade not only witnessed long lines at gas stations but a citizenry that had grown weary and disillusioned. High unemployment, runaway inflation, and the energy crisis, caused in part by U.S. dependence on Arab oil, characterized an increasingly bleak economic situation. As Edward D. Berkowitz demonstrates, the end of the postwar economic boom, Watergate, and defeat in Vietnam led to an unraveling of the national consensus. During the decade, ideas about the United States, how it should be governed, and how its economy should be managed changed dramatically. Berkowitz argues that the postwar faith in sweeping social programs and a global U.S. mission was replaced by a more skeptical attitude about government's ability to positively affect society. From Woody Allen to Watergate, from the decline of the steel industry to the rise of Bill Gates, and from Saturday Night Fever to the Sunday morning fervor of evangelical preachers, Berkowitz captures the history, tone, and spirit of the seventies. He explores the decade's major political events and movements, including the rise and fall of détente, congressional reform, changes in healthcare policies, and the hostage crisis in Iran. The seventies also gave birth to several social movements and the "rights revolution," in which women, gays and lesbians, and people with disabilities all successfully fought for greater legal and social recognition. At the same time, reaction to these social movements as well as the issue of abortion introduced a new facet into American political life-the rise of powerful, politically conservative religious organizations and activists. Berkowitz also considers important shifts in American popular culture, recounting the creative renaissance in American film as well as the birth of the Hollywood blockbuster. He discusses how television programs such as All in the Family and Charlie's Angels offered Americans both a reflection of and an escape from the problems gripping the country.

Between Fact and Fiction

Essays on Post-Mao Chinese Literature & Society

Kam Louie

A series of essays which document chronologically the changes that have occurred in the thematic concerns of post-Mao fiction. By examining the responses of Chinese authorities and readers, the author provides insights into the consciousness of Chinese society after the Cultural Revolution.

True Nature

A Theory of Sexual Attraction

Michael R. Kauth

I have long been awe-struck by authors' claims that their books had been in the making for 5, or 10, or even 15 years. I now have a better appreciation ofthe work involved in bringing a book to press. The seeds of this project have had a long germination. The impetus for this book began more than 10 years ago when I was a graduate student in clinical psychology. Having an interest in human sexuality-and in theories on the forms of sexual attraction specifically-I was perplexed by various perspectives on this subject. Disciplines of thought that I encountered medicine, evolutionary biology, developmental psychology, gay/lesbian theory, social constructionism, anthropology, Marxism, Christianity, and others-perceived the issue so differently, so strongly, with almost no overlap. I was fascinated that the question ofhow and why one is attracted to either one or both sexes could elicit such conviction and divergent points of view. There seemed to be no easy way to resolve these differences. Still, what frustrated me most in my readings were several conceptual problems among the two prominent proponents of contemporary sexuality theory scientists and social constructionists. One ofmy first frustrations with biomedical and social scientists who write about sexuality was that they often define sexual attraction in strict behavioral terms, as completed observable sexual acts--observable in the sense that such acts or their consequences are seen by others.

The Technology of Orgasm

"Hysteria," the Vibrator, and Women's Sexual Satisfaction

Rachel P. Maines, Rachel Maines

From the time of Hippocrates until the 1920s, massaging female patients to orgasm was a staple of medical practice among Western physicians in the treatment of "hysteria," an ailment once considered both common and chronic in women.

Divine Prostitution

Nagendra Kr Singh

Description unavailable for this volume in the current provider response.

Sexual Fluidity

Understanding Women’s Love and Desire

Lisa M. Diamond

Is love “blind” when it comes to gender? For women, it just might be. This unsettling and original book offers a radical new understanding of the context-dependent nature of female sexuality. Lisa M. Diamond argues that for some women, love and desire are not rigidly heterosexual or homosexual but fluid, changing as women move through the stages of life, various social groups, and, most important, different love relationships.This perspective clashes with traditional views of sexual orientation as a stable and fixed trait. But that view is based on research conducted almost entirely on men. Diamond is the first to study a large group of women over time. She has tracked one hundred women for more than ten years as they have emerged from adolescence into adulthood. She summarizes their experiences and reviews research ranging from the psychology of love to the biology of sex differences. Sexual Fluidity offers moving first-person accounts of women falling in and out of love with men or women at different times in their lives. For some, gender becomes irrelevant: “I fall in love with the person, not the gender,” say some respondents.Sexual Fluidity offers a new understanding of women’s sexuality—and of the central importance of love.

Systemic Treatment of Incest

A Therapeutic Handbook

Terry S. Trepper, Mary Jo Barrett

First Published in 1990. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Andreas Capellanus on Love

Andreas

Latin text, parallel English translation.

Changing Chinese Masculinities

From Imperial Pillars of State to Global Real Men

Kam Louie

It is now almost a cliché to claim that China and the Chinese people have changed. Yet inside the new clothing that is worn by the Chinese man today, Kam Louie contends, we still see much of the historical Chinese man. With contributions from a team of outstanding scholars, Changing Chinese Masculinitiesstudies a range of Chinese men in diverse and, most importantly, Chinese contexts. It explores the fundamental meaning of manhood in the Chinese setting and the very notion of an indigenous Chinese masculinity. In twelve chapters spanning the late imperial period to the present day, Changing Chinese Masculinitiesbrings a much needed historical dimension to the discussion. Key aspects defining the male identity such as family relationships and attitudes toward sex, class, and career are explored in depth. Familiar notions of Chinese manhood come in all shapes and sizes. Concubinage reemerges as the taking of “second wives” in recent decades. Male homoerotic love and male prostitution are shown to have long historical roots. The self-images of the literati and officials form an interesting contrast with those of the contemporary white-collar men. Masculinity and nationalism complement each other in troubling ways. China has indeed changed and is still changing, but most of these social transformations do not indicate a complete break with past beliefs or practices in gender relations. Changing Chinese Masculinities inaugurates the Hong Kong University Press book series “Transnational Asian Masculinities.” “Produced by a group of outstanding scholars, this volume offers important insights into little-known aspects of Chinese masculinity. An indispensable reference for those with an interest in Chinese sexuality, social history, and contemporary Chinese culture.” —Anne McLaren, professor of Chinese studies, University of Melbourne “In this book, scholars of late imperial and contemporary China gather to define and critique masculinity in both periods, explore its complexities, and map continuities and discontinuities. What are the traditional models and to what degree do they still maintain a grip today? Is there a ‘masculinity crisis’ in China, and what does it mean to be a Chinese man today? These are some of the daring topics the authors explore.” —Keith McMahon, professor of Chinese language and literature, University of Kansas

A History of Male Photographers

Analyzing Men as Men in Scientific, Commercial, and Art Photography, 1870 to the Present

Nicole Hudgins

A multidisciplinary study on how men use photography to illustrate the tension between social expectations and self-expression.

Proceedings of the 2026 12th International Conference on Digital Humanities and Frontiers in Social Sciences (DHFSS 2026)

Thanapauge Chamaratana, Vishalache Balakrishnan, Dina M. Elshenawi, Anabelie V. Valdez

This is an open access book. The 2026 12th International Conference on Digital Humanities and Frontiers in Social Sciences (DHFSS 2026), scheduled for May 22–24, 2026 in Xi'an, China, aims to convene distinguished academics and industry experts from various disciplines within the field of Humanities and Social Science Research. The conference will serve as a platform for comprehensive discussions and studies encompassing EDUCATION, SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES, INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES, and other related fields. ICHSSR 2026 also endeavors to provide an avenue for experts, scholars, engineers, technicians, and R&D personnel to exchange scientific research achievements and cutting-edge technologies while gaining insights into academic development trends. Furthermore, it seeks to foster the expansion of research ideas through robust academic discourse and facilitate the industrialization cooperation of scholarly accomplishments. We cordially invite professionals from universities, domestic or international scientific research institutions along with business individuals to actively participate in this esteemed event. With its annual recurrence established as an ideal platform for knowledge sharing across EDUCATION , SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES,and INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES domains among others; we wholeheartedly welcome colleagues worldwide to join us at this momentous conference held in Xi'an.

Chinese Masculinities in a Globalizing World

Kam Louie

This book explores how the traditional ideal of Chinese manhood – the "wen" (cultural attainment) and "wu" (martial prowess) dyad – has been transformed by the increasing integration of China in the international scene. It discusses how increased travel and contact between China and the West are having a profound impact; showing how increased interchange with Western men, for whom "wu" is a more significant ideal, has shifted the balance in the classic Chinese dichotomy; and how the huge emphasis on wealth creation in contemporary China has changed the notion of "wen" itself to include business management skills and monetary power. The book also considers the implications of Chinese "soft power" outside China for the reconfigurations in masculinity ideals in the global setting. The rising significance of Chinese culture enables Chinese cultural norms, including ideals of manhood, to be increasingly integrated in the international sphere and to become hybridised. The book also examines the impact of the Japanese and Korean waves on popular conceptions of desirable manhood in China. Overall, it demonstrates that social constructions of Chinese masculinity have changed more fundamentally and become more global in the last three decades than any other time in the last three thousand years.

Understanding Chinese Society

Changes and Transformations

Eileen YUK-HA TSANG

"Before 1978, China was backward economically, politically, diplomatically and was extremely isolated. The country had a few diplomatic allies like North Korea, Russia and Vietnam. However, in the past three decades, the country has witnessed robust changes that have aroused the interest of the westerners in knowing more about the country. This book provides first-hand information on China's social changes and economic transformation. It enables readers to understand the Chinese Society vividly, dynamically, and practically. It examines various facets of the Chinese society ranging from famous landmarks, popular customs, festivals, food, daily chores, etc. The book also offers tips for those who are willing to live, work and run a business in China."--

Sport and American Society

Exceptionalism, Insularity, ‘Imperialism’

Mark Dyreson, J. A. Mangan

A special issue of the International Journal of the History of Sport, this collection of provocative essays explores the many faces of sport in America. Drawing upon insights from anthropology, history, philosophy and sociology and with reference throughout to politics and economics, the contributors outline the story of how American sport has contributed to a climate of insularity, exceptionalism and imperialism, from a symbolic rejection of British rule and British sports to the current status of all-American sports such as baseball and basketball in the face of globalization.