Negotiations of Masculinity in Evangelical Self-Help Literature

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Why Evangelical Men Really Love Jesus

2. Men As Providers

2.1.What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women

2.1.1. Characteristics of a Man

2.1.2. What Is Wrong With Men?

2.1.3. How to Make Your Wife Happy

3. Men As Tender Warriors

3.1.Tender Warrior

3.1.1. The Pillar of the King

3.1.2. The Pillar of the Warrior

3.1.3. The Pillar of the Mentor

3.1.4. The Pillar of the Friend

4. Men As Dangerous Warriors

4.1.Wild at Heart

4.1.1. A Battle to Fight

4.1.2. An Adventure to Live

4.1.3. A Beauty to Rescue

5. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

This master thesis investigates how evangelical self-help literature has negotiated and shaped ideals of masculinity from the 1970s to the early 2000s, analyzing how these texts promote aggressive or militant characteristics under the guise of biblical teachings to maintain patriarchal structures.

• Evolution of evangelical masculine ideals from the 1970s to the post-9/11 era.
• Connection between religious gender ideology and the maintenance of female subordination.
• Use of hegemonic masculinity theory to analyze the power dynamics within evangelical self-help manuals.
• Role of popular culture, sports, and war imagery in constructing modern evangelical manhood.
• Impact of these negotiations on social attitudes towards gender equality and sexual minorities.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Why Evangelical Men Really Love Jesus: Introduces the research focus on evangelical self-help literature as an underrated genre that shapes gender definitions through a lens of militant masculinity.

2. Men As Providers: Analyzes James Dobson’s 1975 book to illustrate how 1970s evangelicalism established men as the authoritative heads and financial providers of the nuclear family.

3. Men As Tender Warriors: Explores the 1990s Promise Keepers Movement and Stu Weber’s work, which introduced a more complex, four-pillar model of manhood that balances authority with a new focus on emotional vulnerability.

4. Men As Dangerous Warriors: Examines John Eldredge’s work in the post-9/11 context, highlighting a shift toward a more aggressive, wild, and hyper-masculine definition of the evangelical man.

5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, arguing that evangelical self-help manuals have become increasingly militaristic over time, consistently serving to justify patriarchal control and resist gender equality.

Keywords

Evangelicalism, Masculinity, Gender Roles, Self-Help Literature, Hegemonic Masculinity, Patriarchy, James Dobson, Promise Keepers, John Eldredge, Bible, Family Values, Christian Warrior, Gender Inequality, Fatherhood, Servant Leadership

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core subject of this thesis?

The thesis explores the construction and negotiation of masculine ideals within evangelical self-help literature from the 1970s through the early 2000s.

What are the primary themes addressed?

Key themes include the defense of traditional family values, the concept of male headship, the role of fatherhood, and the shift from domestic providership to a more militant, "warrior-like" masculinity.

What is the research goal?

The primary goal is to analyze how these self-help manuals influence gender ideology and maintain patriarchal power structures, often by framing female subordination as divinely ordained.

Which theoretical framework is utilized?

The author primarily employs Raewyn Connell’s theory of "hegemonic masculinity" to analyze the supremacy of heterosexual, white, evangelical men and the marginalization of other gender roles.

What does the main part of the thesis cover?

It provides an in-depth analysis of three distinct evangelical books across different decades, tracing the evolution from Dobson’s 1970s provider role to Weber’s 1990s "Tender Warrior" and Eldredge’s post-9/11 "Dangerous Warrior" model.

Which keywords characterize the work?

Essential keywords include Evangelicalism, Masculinity, Hegemonic Masculinity, Patriarchy, Christian Warrior, and Biblicism.

How does the author interpret the shift to militant masculinity after 9/11?

The author argues that the terrorist attacks intensified the evangelical demand for strong, aggressive, and heroic men, leading to a rejection of "softer" or more sensitive masculine ideals in favor of a wilder, more dangerous warrior archetype.

Does this work analyze the role of sports in evangelical masculinity?

Yes, the author highlights how football metaphors and, more recently, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are used in evangelical ministries to cultivate a bold, physical, and aggressive Christian identity.