Description
Book SynopsisMen at Work explores the cultural portrayal of four essential wartime occupations: agriculture, industry, firefighting and the mercantile marine. In analysing a broad spectrum of wartime media (most notably film, radio and visual culture) it establishes a clear hierarchy of masculine roles in British culture during the Second World War.
Trade Review“Robb’s book does what many other studies of war and masculinity do not: it engages with the combined presence (or absence) of men and women, thus exploring gender relations rather than merely studying men and manhood. … Men at Work thus recovers the history of civilian men during the war for the benefit of historians of masculinity and illustrates the way that the war changed popular representations of men. … a valuable contribution to the history of masculinities and war.” (Mark Rothery, Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 52 (1), January, 2017)
“Working to fill a gap in the knowledge of men's experiences on the home front, historian Robb (Univ. of Strathclyde) explores how civilian men were portrayed to the British populace. … This book helps readers see that men were at home and providing important support for the war effort. … this is undoubtedly a useful contribution to the studies of masculinity and WW II. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” (R. J. Bates, Choice, Vol. 53 (10), June, 2016)
Table of Contents1. Finding the Lost Working Man 2. Digging for Victory: Farming in Wartime Culture 3. The Attack Begins in the Factory: The Male Industrial Worker in Wartime Culture 4. Heroes on the Home Front: Firefighting in Wartime Culture 5. For Those in Peril on the Sea: the Merchant Navy in Wartime Culture 6. All In It Together?: Reflections on the Masculine Hierarchy
