Panel Convenors: Dr. Rik Huizinga (Utrecht University) and Abu Saleh Mohammad Sowad (Concordia University)
Although significant progress has been made in understanding migrant men and masculinities in a relatively short period since the initial interest, it remains crucial that debates on migration as a gendered and gendering process continue to critically explore and examine migrant men and masculinities (Christou & Kofman, 2022). Whereas migrant men for a long time were over-researched as ‘normative’ migrants, they remain understudied due to the universalization and presupposed singularity of the male migrant experience (Charsley & Wray, 2015). Yet, migration as a formative process requires male migrants to define, negotiate and perform multiple and, at times, contradictory forms of masculinities, which in turn shapes migration in various ways (Wojnicka & Pustułka, 2019). Scholars, for example, provide in-depth knowledge on the impact of different forms of migration on migrant men’s work lives and their strategic capacities to access the receiving state’s labour force (e.g. Batnitzky et al., 2008; Hussein & Christensen, 2017; Huizinga & van Hoven, 2020). Other studies investigated how migration aRects partner relations and family roles in nuanced and diverse ways (Charsley, 2005; Choi, 2018; Gallo & Scrinzi, 2016) or examined the complex interplay of gender and asylum governance (GriRiths, 2015). Despite being increasingly recognized as a significant dimension of migration, and a multitude of studies illustrate how migrant masculinities are relationally defined, negotiated and performed, inequalities related to vulnerabilities, emotions and marginalizations remain underexplored. Rather than thinking through male migrants’ perpetual
crises, more nuanced theorizations of migrant men and masculinities might help to reach its progressive potential.
The panel seeks to disentangle and decenter the academic discussion concerning migrant men and masculinities to expand the boundaries of various ‘migrant masculinities’ and trouble the category of ‘migrant men’ across receiving societies on a global scale. We invite empirical and theoretical papers that address the lived realities of migrant men and masculinities worldwide, aiming to capture and disrupt the current status quo of migrant men in an era of globalization, neoliberalism, climate change, and technological advancements. In particular, we welcome papers that incorporate an intersectional approach within their analysis as we consider intersectionality a fruitful approach to studying how masculinities take on different forms in various migration contexts (Wojnicka & Nowicka, 2022). The discussions we aim to foster are not only academic exercises but have the potential to significantly influence the development of gender-inclusive migration policies, support integration efforts tailored to the specific needs of men, women and other genders, and ultimately promote a more nuanced and equitable holistic understanding of migration and settlement for all genders. By thoroughly examining the interplay between masculinities, migration processes, and social structures, we can illuminate how men navigate expectations, redefine identities, and potentially contribute to broader societal shifts in gender roles. Consequently, the panel seeks to further understand and expand the progressive potential of studying men, masculinities and migration.
The panel seeks to address a range of topics and approaches including, but not limited to:
§ Men’s bodies, geopolitics, and the production of masculinities.
§ Relationality, care and caring, family, friendships and fatherhood.
§ Migrant masculinities, (post)colonial legacies, and decolonization.
§ Male migrants’ experiences of vulnerability, emotions, and aRective ties.
§ Masculinities and the nexus of climate change, justice, and (non)migration.
§ The role of transnationalism and diaspora in shaping men’s identities and practices.
§ Hegemonic masculinities, oppression, and exclusionary forms of migrant masculinities.
§ Geographies of masculinities, spatial production of belonging, and localized relations of power.
§ The impact of migration policies and governance on male migrants’ experiences and identities.
§ Lived realities and public discourses concerning migrant men's integration and adaptation in receiving societies.
Applicants should submit a 250-word abstract, including a preliminary title and keywords, to Rik Huizinga (
no later than 3 September 2024 (23:59 CEST). Submissions accepted by the session convenors will be announced on 10 September 2024. The accepted paper proposals will be submitted to IMISCOE for additional review, and the presenters of finally accepted papers will need to register for the IMISCOE 2025 Annual Meeting. Successful applicants are asked to submit a paper synopsis or working document by 7 June 2025 to facilitate an in-depth panel discussion. Please note that we prefer an on-site panel format, but if we receive enough submissions to
organize multiple panels, we can consider both online and on-site panels.