Theorizing a Necessary Link: Masculinity and Social Sustainability in African Contexts

This chapter elucidates the significance of analysing the ideological constitution of masculinities with an aim of theoretically enriching critical engagements in social sustainability debates. For methodological consideration, the chapter applies a theoretical approach that mainly draws from available studies in the fields of men and masculinity and sustainability. In order to achieve this, the chapter evolves in four sections. First, I present a brief framing of gender in the sustainability discourse. Second, I highlight the integral task of integrating men and masculinity in the ongoing sustainability debate. Third, possible contours of an ideological framing in theorizing masculinity are discussed. The premise of the chapter is that the link between men, masculinity and social sustainability in African contexts is made apparent by analysing ideological constitution of masculinities. This is therefore useful in conceptualizing masculinity for sustainability discourse. In the final section of the chapter, I discuss some implications of analysing ideological constitution of masculinity, arguing for the need to apply monologic and dialogic notions as alternative concepts for conceptualizing masculinities for social sustainability discourse.