The image of manhood in biographies of ex-prisoners

Abstract

The subject of this article is the issue of masculinity crisis, seen with the eyes of former male-prisoners. Many experts point that masculinity crisis is induced by series of cumulative factors, linked to socio-economic transformations in modern world, which tend to produce transitions in traditional social perception of masculinity alongside. As a result, the modern man does not feel as safe (e.g. in his professional or family life) as he used to in former decades; his traditional position as the main food-provider and defender of his family has become unstable. The aim of this article is to present how these critical tendencies reflect in perception of masculinity by former maleconvicts, the social category considered as one of the most in-danger of experiencing difficulties in acting elementary social roles, including those recognised as conventionally manly and, on the other hand, the category influenced by the vision, strongly present in delinquent subculture, providing that men should be physically and mentally tough, sturdy, powerful and independent. The analysis is based on narrative interviews with former male-convicts, conducted by the author in 2011.