Why are so many men in the UK obsessed with football? Why, when men drink, do they almost exclusively drink beer, or brown spirits? Why are they more violent than women, and more likely to risk their life to impress their mates? It’s tempting to pin this all on testosterone or ‘evolution’, but there are far more complex and nuanced social dynamics at play. Engaging with key sociological concepts and debates, this module examines what it means to ‘be a man’ in contemporary society, how these expectations shape men’s lives and the lives of those around them, and whether they are changing over time. We will explore how masculinities are produced, policed, and contested across a range of contexts including men’s friendships and relationships, and in institutions such as workplaces, the media, and the criminal justice system. Upon successful completion of this module, students will be able to produce nuanced, intersectional analyses that connect masculinities to a range of social issues, including violence, mental ill-health, and substance-related harm, and articulate how these insights should be integrated into social policy.