Construing Caste, Masculinity, and Intellect in Manu Joseph’s Serious Men
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-8026.2025.e103612Palavras-chave:
Dalit Masculinity, Hegemonic Masculinity, Global Intellectual Hegemony, IntersectionalityResumo
Intellect is an overlooked aspect in scrutinizing the effects of hegemonic masculinity in critical studies on men and masculinities. In postcolonial, liberalized, and post-modern India, it interacts with overlapping identities, primarily gender, to create a complex reality, particularly for the most underprivileged Dalits. The article examines the intersections of caste, masculinity, and intellect in Manu Joseph’s novel Serious Men (2010), which underscores the gendered nature of politicized knowledge productions. Using the concepts of “hegemonic masculinity” and “global intellectual hegemony”, the article analyzes the dynamics of caste and intellect in marginalised masculinities. The multiple gender subordinations of Dalit men are evaluated using “intersectionality” and the “power/knowledge” dichotomy. The article accentuates the anti-essentialist behaviour of non-hegemonic masculinities that challenge dominant masculinities.
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