The two phenomena highlighted in this edited volume ‘motherhood/mothering and masculinities’ are each recent areas of development in critical Feminist and Men’s Studies. In contributing to these areas of gender studies, this book draws attention to the fact that much can also be gained when we explore relationships between them, an idea that may not readily come to mind. While femininities and masculinities are co-constructed, motherhood and mothering bring additional perspectives to the study of femininity that affect the construction of masculinity in complex ways. The 12 chapters in this volume allow readers to ponder some of these complexities and may suggest other issues that require investigation. Spanning many continents, the essays have both a global and historical reach emphasising cultural differences and historical changes. Of import is the idea that mothers have agency and are active in constructions affecting their lives. They are able to bring motherhood out of the shadows as they strive to build, re-evaluate or alter their roles within families and communities. These have an impact on developments in masculinities. The book is divided into three parts and the chapters investigate a wide range of issues including cultural constructs, gender in parent/child, relationships, non-binary developments, the impact of war on mothering, decolonisation struggles, and much more.

Tola Olu Pearce (PhD. Brown University) is a sociologist and Professor Emerita at the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA. She also taught sociology at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria for 15 years. Research, teaching and publication interests are: women and children’s health in Africa, globalisation, social inequalities and Human Rights.

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Andrea Moraes (PhD. University of Missouri, Columbia) is a Brazilian/Canadian scholar in rural sociology. She is interested in indigenous populations, food security and rural development. Presently, she is a Lecturer at the School of Nutrition and the Chang School of Continuing Studies at Ryerson University Toronto in Canada.

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