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Dr. Kristen Barber received her Ph.D. from University of Southern California and is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Director of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (beginning Fall 2018) at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Her research focuses on issues of Gender Inequalities broadly defined with expertise in Sociology of Culture and Work and Organizations. Her research is intersectional, always considering how race, class, and sexuality shape gender in organizations, cultural repertoires, and everyday interactions and identity construction. A qualitative scholar who believes in boots-on-the-ground research, Barber's work appears in Gender & Society, Mobilization, Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Sociological Spectrum, and Contexts, among other journals, and has been reprinted in popular anthologies.
Barber is currently Co-Editor of the Culture Section for Contexts, a publication of the American Sociological Association, Editorial Board Member of Gender & Society, U.S. Advisory Editorial Board Member of Men and Masculinities, and elected council member for the ASA's Sex and Gender Section; she has served as a grant reviewer for the National Science Foundation. Barber is also chair-elect for the American Sociological Association Section on Race, Gender, and Class (serving as chair in 2019-2020). |
Barber's book, Styling Masculinity: Gender, Class, and Inequality in the Men's Grooming Industry is available from the press, here, and at Amazon, GoodReads, Booksamillion, and BarnesandNoble.
Styling Masculinity is featured in the Naturally Curly article, "10 Books That Will Change the Way You Think About Hair," by Chelsea Johnson, here:
- "As the 'metro-sexual' term evidences, straight professional men are increasingly engaging in beauty culture. In Styling Masculinity, sociologist Kristen Barber focuses on the newly emergent high-end men's hair salon. Styling Masculinity describes how clients work to protect and project their masculinity while getting facials, manicures, and coiffed hairdos. We also hear from women salon workers, who face unique obstacles due to their close, physical interactions with clients. Styling Masculinity is an excellent pick for readers interested in men's grooming and gender relations."
Praise for Styling Masculinity
"Barber provides excellent insight into how women groom men while upholding their gender and class identities, and how masculinity and beauty are not at odds with each other. Truly a pleasure." -Jamie Mullaney, author of Paid to Party: Working Time and Emotion in Direct Home Sales
"What does it mean that contemporary men are going to salons, getting their nails done, or dyeing their hair? Kristen Barber examines how these practices are intimately related to shifting definitions of masculinity, and actually buttress gender, race, and class inequalities. A compelling and colorful read." -C.J. Pascoe, author of Dude, You're a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School
"A deep examination of the rise of male beauty culture." -The New York Times
"A well-researched contribution to the sociology of work, gender studies, and consumer culture … Highly recommended." -Choice
"Barber provides excellent insight into how women groom men while upholding their gender and class identities, and how masculinity and beauty are not at odds with each other. Truly a pleasure." -Jamie Mullaney, author of Paid to Party: Working Time and Emotion in Direct Home Sales
"What does it mean that contemporary men are going to salons, getting their nails done, or dyeing their hair? Kristen Barber examines how these practices are intimately related to shifting definitions of masculinity, and actually buttress gender, race, and class inequalities. A compelling and colorful read." -C.J. Pascoe, author of Dude, You're a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School
"A deep examination of the rise of male beauty culture." -The New York Times
"A well-researched contribution to the sociology of work, gender studies, and consumer culture … Highly recommended." -Choice
Styling Masculinity makes The New York Times' list of "Stylish Reads"
Gift Ideas for Fashionable
Men, From Books on
Style to Custom Shoes
By ALEX TUDELA DEC. 7, 2016
Men, From Books on
Style to Custom Shoes
By ALEX TUDELA DEC. 7, 2016
