The Cultivated Macho: Men in Domestic Kitchen

Bc. Filip Možný

Master's thesis

Abstract:

V této práci se soustředím na způsob, jak se kulinární maskulinita manifestuje v prostoru domácí kuchyně, jak muži vnímají praxi přípravy jídla, tj. vaření, a jak tato praxe ve výsledku ovlivňuje jejich představy o jejich vlastní maskulinitě. Ve své práci čerpám především z rozsáhlé literatury o gender a maskulinitě, hloubkových rozhovorů, ale také z kuchařek, kuchařských shows a v neposlední řadě také z vlastní zkušenosti, které dávám prostor především v prvních kapitolách této práce. V následujících kapitolách podrobněji popisuji tři „vzory“ maskulinity, které jsem identifikoval v narativách svých respondentů.

Abstract:

Drawing on the data gained from in-depth interviews, TV shows, cookbooks, personal experience as well as the extensive literature on gender and masculinities this paper shows how the culinary masculinity is enacted within the boundaries of domestic kitchen, how men perceive the practice of domestic food preparation and how this experience in turn shapes and forms their own idea of what kind of men they are in general. First my own progress within the field is chronicled, drawing on my own experiences from both domestic and professional kitchens. In the next chapters three patterns of culinary masculinities are identified in the narratives of my respondents. By closely examining each one of these and the specific ways in which they are enacted within the confined space of the domestic kitchen I am able to show how men construct their own culinary identities and how these identities in turn influence their own idea of what kind of men they are in general. In the final discussion I elaborate on the analytical tools I have used to distinguish between these three patterns and how these masculinities differ and relate to each other, to other non-culinary masculinities and also femininities. I also offer some thoughts on what the shortcomings of my work are and give a brief outline of possible further research.

Keywords

gender, hegemonie, maskulinita, vaření, domácnost, kuchyně, maso, požitek, úzkost, gender hegemony, masculinity, cooking, domestic kitchen, meat, pleasure, anxiety

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 12. 5. 2014

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 9. 6. 2014
• Supervisor: Mgr. Eva Šlesingerová, Ph.D.
• Reader: doc. PhDr. Iva Šmídová, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
Sociology / Sociology