Final answer:
Bourgois's exploration of masculinity considers how social suffering related to gender is experienced differently, emphasizing that masculinity is a complex, socially constructed identity shaped by lifelong cultural expectations and societal pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
In "In Search of Masculinity," Philippe Bourgois explores the nuanced and complicated experiences of masculinity, particularly focusing on social suffering and how it is gendered among various groups. The text touches upon the lives of the Igbo communities in Nigeria, as described by Daniel Jordan Smith, showing that masculinity is a lifelong struggle and not a mere ascription at birth. The search for masculine identity involves mastering strategies of urban survival and upholding certain societal expectations to maintain one's status among peers.
Research on masculinity indicates that the concept of "male" is relational, often defined against "female," highlighting the social construction of these roles. Studies like those by Barry Hewlett on fatherhood among the Aka of central Africa illustrate that behaviors often stereotyped as feminine, such as childcare, are not naturally beyond the capabilities of men but are matters of socialization. Thus, understanding masculinity requires exploring how these roles are constructed through various rites of passage, relationships, and family dynamics.