Ecomasculinity, Livelihood Security, Caring, and Resilience in the Aftermath of Disasters and Ecological Devastation

Abstract

In the social scientific literature, few attempts have been made to understand a more nuanced relationship between men, the masculine, and nature. In fact, few social scientific studies explore how men perceive their relationship to the physical environment and how the environment can help shape and define masculinity. The studies that do exist explicitly detail the nature of men who self-define their masculinity by the type of outdoor activities, behaviours, and work they perform. This chapter argues a need to understand the relationships between men and the physical environment in the aftermath of disasters. A new, more nuanced understanding is proposed of traditional masculine gender roles, which has historically viewed men as exploiters and extractors. Our objective is to examine masculinity’s contribution to understanding how men relate to and understand their physical environment in the aftermath of disaster. Moreover, in what ways does masculinity contribute to an understanding of how men relate to the environment—beyond the role of an extractor and as a protector, defender, and caretaker of the environment, in order to promote more relational, caring ecological masculinities (Hultman & Pulé, 2018). We argue that ecological masculinities will foster increased care and resilience among men and communities when rebuilding local through to global livelihoods after a disaster. Using disasters along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. as case studies to draw conclusions regarding the dual nuanced nature of humanity and the environment, this chapter argues for the inclusion of an ecomasculine perspective in disaster studies. The chapter concludes by exploring how ecomasculinity is well-suited to increase vulnerabilities to catastrophic events among men and within social organisations.