Dying to be men

de Gary Barker

"Young men are on the front lines of civil unrest, riots and gang warfare worldwide. In countries such as Jamaica, Brazil, Colombia and South Africa, young men are dying at rates higher than in countries with declared wars, and at rates that are far higher than young women and older men. The principal causes of death for these young men are violence, traffic accidents and HIV/AIDS. Because they are trying to live up to certain rigid models of what it means to be men they are, literally dying to be men." "This book looks at the challenges that young men face when trying to grow up in societies where violence is the norm. It describes the young men's struggles in other areas of their lives, such as the effort to stay in school, the multiple challenges of coming of age as men in the face of social exclusion, including finding meaningful employment, their interactions with young women, their sexual behaviour and the implications of this for HIV/AIDS prevention. The text ultimately focuses on 'voices of resistance' - young men who find ways to stay out of violence and to show respect and equality in their relationships, even in settings where male violence and rigid attitudes about manhood are prevalent." "Dying to be Men traces the challenges facing young men in a variety of low-income urban settings worldwide and is one of the first comparative reflections of its kind. It will be invaluable reading for students and researchers of gender studies, as well as practitioners working with youth, as it adds the voices of low-income young men; it also brings a gender component to the discussion of violence and delinquency, social exclusion and young people's health."--Jacket.