Abstract
Until very recently, there has been a dearth of research on the intersection of masculinities and nature, but Ecological Masculinities: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Guidance (2018) by Martin Hultman and Paul M. Pulé takes a big step toward furthering the emergent conversation on this topic. Although critical studies on men and masculinities have established themselves as a field and discourse that studies male and masculine relations to sex, gender, society, and politics, and ecofeminism has studied the relation of gender, and especially of women, to nature, Ecological Masculinities is the first book-length and research- and theory-driven exploration of specifically men, masculinities, nature, and gender equity. This activist-oriented book, part of Routledge’s Studies on Gender and Environments series, will likely appeal both to junior and senior students and scholars interested in gender in general and masculinities in particular as well as anyone interested in how to stave off the current ecological crisis.
The main argument that Hultman and Pulé expound is that although men, and especially (relatively) wealthy men in the Global North, must accept a large share of the responsibility of “many of the world’s ills” (p. 2), especially environmental ones, it is nevertheless possible for men to change through a process of “ecologisation” (p. 37). Crucially, this ecologization, from “daring” (p. 2) industrial breadwinner masculinities toward ecological masculinities, entails embracing an ethic of “caring” (p. 163) toward the nonmale and nonhuman.
The book is divided into three parts: Section I lays the conceptual foundations for a theory and practice of ecological masculinities by delineating the current state of masculinities and gender politics in relation to the environment. Section II outlines the “four streams” (p. 61) or historical research fields that are necessary for the theoretical understanding from which ecological masculinities might emerge. These “streams” include masculinities politics, deep ecology, ecofeminism, and feminist care theory. Section III initially continues the theoretical discussion by assembling together current research on men and nature and concludes by what is perhaps the most valuable addition of the book: an attempt at the practical guidance that the book’s title promises, the “giving ADAM-n” (p. 241) model of masculine ecologization.
Throughout the book, Hultman and Pulé rely on both theoretically informed research and empirical data. The emphasis on theory especially is a necessary feature of a work that aims to lay the foundation for more and varied future work. At times, the heavy reliance on theory may leave some readers wanting more justification for some assumptions that the book seems to take as given, such as the problems with sports, fitness, and competition, and in those cases, the reader must do additional research themselves into the original empirical data that substantiate Hultman and Pulé’s argumentation.
Overall, the main arguments of the book are convincing. Although Ecological Masculinities is written in the voice of two activists, Hultman and Pulé are rigorous in their analysis of the varying reasons both for gender inequity and the gendered nature of environmental destruction. The claim that (some) men and masculinities are especially destructive toward the environment and therefore more accountable than other groups may seem provocative and a bit like “playing the blame game” to some, but the argument is justified and, more importantly, guidelines provided for breaking out of said destructive behavior. Although there is a distinct possibility that it is mostly those men and masculinities who are already through their socioeconomic position receptive to the feminist-activist message of Ecological Masculinities, it is also feasible that the practical guidelines offered, namely, encouraging “[a]wareness, [d]econstruction, [a]mendment, [m]odification, and nourishing new masculinities” (pp. 232−238), empower more men in general to finally “give a damn” or “ADAM-n” about both the state of the environment and of gender equity.
In conclusion, Ecological Masculinities is likely to become an essential reference in future research on men and nature. Since it is one of the first academic books on the topic, its role will necessarily be one of initiating and furthering discussion, and later research will no doubt address those issues that Hultman and Pulé did not yet cover. For example, a partial research gap in the book is the small role given to masculine meat eating habits and their relation to environmental destruction, violence, and oppression of women, and acknowledging and developing previous research on this may be one useful direction for future work. In the meantime, the clear and accessible research in this book will provide readers from undergraduate students upward with guidance on how to advance further in this field and which “streams” to wade deeper into.