Changing Pacific Masculinities: The ‘Problem’ of Men

Abstract

This introduction places the papers of this Special Issue within the context of a brief overview of previous literature on the subject of masculinities in the Pacific, and especially of Melanesia. The particular focus on Melanesia is discussed in terms of the colloquia from which the papers originated and is also linked to a discussion of the regionalism of applied social science in Australia. In acknowledging the current link between academic research into gender and the aid and development industries, this introduction critically discusses how understandings of Pacific men and masculinities have presented a ‘problem’ to both of these areas. Indeed, while assessing particular instances in the changing situation of Pacific men's lives, the papers in this Issue also provide a timely critique of the shared dilemmas of anthropology and development within the region.

Men, Modernity and Melanesia

“…Resentment and constraint against women by Melanesian men, often accompanied by a palpable sense of violent backlash against them, are prominent themes in an important suite of papers edited as a special issue of The Australian Journal of Anthropology by John Taylor (2008). In this and other works, the link between gendered change, masculinity and locally and regionally modern challenges to men seems substantively born out and amplified.…”

“…Against the grains of truth or significance that have informed and undergirded such generalisations in each case, individual Melanesian societies and circumstances evince their own distinctive development. On the one hand, for instance, the challenging and often troubling current trends of Melanesian masculinity as documented in Taylor (2008) appear to have significant purchase in various parts of Melanesia. As an overall emphasis, however, this orientation risks 'basket-casing' Melanesia and threatens to put the region back in the savage slot to which it has been relegated for much of anthropology's professional past (cf.…”

Unequal Lives in the Western Pacific

“…Anthropologists have documented such backlashes, which often embrace romanticised notions of neo-traditional male-dominated kastom and reject the idea of human rights (seen here as 'women's rights') (Macintyre, 2012;Taylor, 2008a). To this end, anthropologists are paying greater attention to the ways that Melanesian masculinities are 'changing' (Taylor, 2008b) and 'moving' (Jolly, 2008) as men meet the challenges of rapidly changing environments and societal expectations, blending received modalities of gender, sexuality, economy and authority with exogenous forms. The historical processes of colonialism, Christian conversion, market penetration and urbanisation have upset and displaced once 'hegemonic' forms of masculinity, as the flux and change of Melanesian gender relations has given rise to a plurality of masculinities and 'emergent' expressions of these new masculine ideals (Biersack, 2016;Jolly, 2008;Jolly, Stewart & Brewer, 2012;Munro, 2017;see also McDougall, this volume;Zimmer-Tamakoshi, this volume).…”

Before, it wasn’t like this …: Longitudinal research and a generation of continuity and change in rural–urban migration in Vanuatu

“…While a socially valued role, as elsewhere in Vanuatu (Cummings, 2009), many young Paamese women were not ready to become a mama . Rather, as for males and perceptions of masculinity throughout Vanuatu (Taylor, 2008), increased exposure and access to DVDs, and the regular stationing of Peace Corps and other volunteers on the island, meant that Western ideals and depictions of femininity were relatively easy for young Paamese to access. Paamese women were, therefore, able to assess their own cultural norms through a wider lens than was once possible, and were using mobility to explore new and different forms of modernity unavailable on the island.…”