Textilens tillhörighet - En kvalitativ maskulinitetsstudie som belyser de könsmönster som avspeglas inom det textila hantverket

Abstract

This study highlights the gender norms that prevail in the textile craftsmanship. Through qualitative interviews with phenomenological analysis an attempt takes place to understand how it is to be a man in a textile context. The idea for this essay topic and problem formulation is based on personal doubts about to be in a textile context. Where does this doubt come from? Why do I not as a male wood craftsman feel comfortable in a textile context? In this study a series of research is reported about the contact between masculinity, gender roles and coding, but also how the textile become feminine coded through history. In this study the focus is on the concept of being, which in this respect stems from that one feel comfortable in a textile context. The purpose of the study is to examine the masculine perspective in a textile context as well as to do an objective investigation whether selected textile artisans believes there is a gender-normative image of textile crafts. The methodology for this study is qualitative in-depth interviews performed with three male textile practitioners. All with different backgrounds and professions but with a strong textile affiliation. The analyze of these interviews has a phenomenological starting point where the interest in the performer's own reflections and worldview are central. The study´s starting point is about feeling comfortable in a textile context which result in the craftsmanship being secondary, which also means that the operator does not need to be active or working professionally in the textile context. The masculine theories presented in this study have different initial points. However, it is possible to apply these because there is a general interest in exploring social structures that created the standard that prevails today. How is masculinity formed and why is certain phenomena ascribed as cross-border and unmanly? The result of this study is that the male textile artisans do not consider their choice of craft as cross-border or unmanly. Instead the ascribed cross-border image and the unmanly phenomenon is something produced by people outside the textile context. This result can be compared with the theories that are ascribed when their common initial point is the interaction between people.