This book draws upon qualitative interviews with lower-middle class men with adult children. It provides important insight into a region of the world that has not been sufficiently studied in the field of Masculinity Studies and analyzes manhood/fatherhood from a novel perspective. It uses Margaret Wetherell’s (2012) theory of “affective practice” to focus on moments men experience masculinity as “essence” and “free play” as formulated by Todd W. Reeser (2010). Elaborating on affective practices which stabilize and destabilize makbulhood, manhood, and fatherhood, it focuses on a long-excluded generation of men in the literature and illuminates men’s “Iamnotlikethem” and “Iamlikeallmenontheearth” moments. It is relevant to researchers in gender studies, masculinity studies, social psychology, and family sociology.

Mürüvet Esra Yıldırım is an award-winning qualitative researcher, content consultant, and playwright. She has introduced the Guided Autobiography technique in Turkey and commences regular groups to initiate artistic and daily dialogues.