Mass media portrayals of women have been identified as influential in shaping their self-image and self-esteem, as well as men's and societies' views of women. Comparatively few studies have examined mass media portrayals of men and male identity, and gender studies have often assumed these to be unproblematic. But, in a post-industrial era of economic, technological and social change, research…

This book describes and analyses the distinctive social habitats that arise from the interpretation of globalization and local cultures. Through in-depth case studies of South Asian, East African, Melanesian and European societies, the contributors provide a careful, contextual analysis of the formation and expression of local identities and of the affective self-constitution of social agents. …