WGS-327 Masculinity and Mental Heath in Irish Fiction
In Ireland, men don't get depression. Sometimes they have trouble with their nerves, they may be on tablets, or in a dire situation, they may have even taken to their bed -- but never depressions. this course examines representations of male mental health in contemporary Irish literature through a feminist lens, exploring how cultural expectations of masculinity shape, restrict, and silence emotional expression. Topics will include the recent male loneliness epidemic, the effects of a repressive society on queer characters, masculinity under occupation during the troubles in Northern Ireland, the complicated relationship between masculinity and the Catholic church, and boyhood in Ireland.