Kristen Barber, Ph.D.
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GENDERED WORLDS, 4TH EDITION

Gendered Worlds, 4th Edition (Oxford University Press), is a foundational textbook that introduces students to the topic of gender and sexuality as they operate in conjunction with race, ethnicity, and class. The text stands out for its global focus, which helps students to see how gender operates around the world in patterned and political ways. And while the chapters emphasize social problems and inequalities, they also present state, institutional, and interactional level efforts to improve our social environments and our lives. Gendered Worlds, 4th Edition ​is available from the press, here, and at Amazon.
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Praise for Gendered Worlds

"I like the approach of Gendered Worlds, as the major social intuitions and aspects of social life are included. It's unique in the sense that it covers a wide array of social problems and incorporates gender throughout. Important topics are covered, the research is up to date, and numerous examples are used to illustrate and support the information presented." -Melissa Gosdin, Albany State University

"The perspective used in Gendered Worlds is current and outstanding. The authors have taken a unique global, intersectional, and social constructionist approach in explaining gender and sexuality inequalities. It is a great way to motivate students to think out of the box and out of the everyday, normal experiences. This is a remarkable text." -Nivedita Vaidya, California State University, Los Angeles

STYLING MASCULINITY:
GENDER, CLASS, AND INEQUALITY IN THE MEN'S GROOMING INDUSTRY

Styling Masculinity (Rutgers University Press) makes The New York Times' list of "Stylish Reads" and​​ is available from the press, here, and at Amazon, GoodReads, Booksamillion, and BarnesandNoble.

  • Hear Barber on NPR's Marketplace, here and here.​​
Styling Masculinity is featured in the Naturally Curly article, "10 Books That Will Change the Way You Think About Hair," by Chelsea Johnson, here:
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  • ​​"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."​
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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."
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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
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"A well-researched contribution to the sociology of work, gender studies, and consumer culture … Highly recommended." 
-Choice