Call for Papers

AAAS Long Beach, CA on April 4-6, 2023

Send us a 250-word abstract along with a 100-word bio by September 31, 2022. \

jean_amato@fitnyc.edu [subject: AAAS abstract]

(We will submit the final panel on Oct 3rd)

Constructing Asian American Masculinities: Public Health and Cultural Studies

Organizer: Kyunghee Pyun, Fashion Institute of Technology

Discussant: Jean Amato, Fashion Institute of Technology

We want to organize a panel on how masculinities have been constructed in Asian American communities. From the late nineteenth century, Asian countries have emphasized building a strong nation and building strong citizens. Physical education and Self-Strengthening were tied together in construction of modern citizenship. In the 1930s, women’s bodies were also a significant topic to create a powerful country with a growing population. In the Asian American studies, Daniel Y. Kim had discussed cultural representations of African American and Asian American masculinity, focusing primarily on the major works of two influential figures, Ralph Ellison and Frank Chin in his book Writing Manhood in Black and Yellow (2005). Beyond the field of comparative literature, one can revisit the issue of representation and construction of masculinities for various subgroups of Asian American studies. 

This project will create new conversations in ethnic studies as our concept of masculinities have changed over time. Gender is a fluid concept. Papers in this panel will ask to critique standard practices of complying to gender norms of a subgroup of Asian American communities. 

Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

-               The interplay of manhood and masculinity between East Asian context and American popular culture 

-               Public health relations and immigration policy

-               Disappearing/enduring stereotypes of Asian American masculinities

-               Masculinity and ethnic studies

-               Masculinity in larger context of LGBTQI and belonging/exclusion

-               Representation/misrepresentations of Asian American masculinities  

-               Representing Asian American manhood in literature, art, cinema, and other creative media

-               Immaterial and invented/imagined/re-invented manhood, male bodies, masculinities

-               Supernatural, natural, extraordinary, mundane, insufficient bodies 

Send us a 250-word abstract along with a 100-word bio by September 31, 2022. \

jean_amato@fitnyc.edu [subject: AAAS abstract]