Men, Masculinities, and Feminism: A literature review exploring theoretical approaches for gender equality with a focus on India

The International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and Nirantar: A Centre for Gender and Education have partnered to conduct a comprehensive literature review on men, masculinities, and feminist theorization, with support from the ALIGN Platform. This timely report brings together theoretical, historical, and programmatic insights to critically examine how masculinities are constructed and contested, and the implications of these processes for advancing gender equality in India. At a time when engaging men and boys has become a key strategy within the gender and development space, the report calls for a deeper, feminist-rooted understanding of masculinity as a social, intersectional, and power-laden construct. The review traces the evolution of masculinity studies globally and contextualizes them within India’s complex socio-political and historical realities—ranging from colonial legacies and caste hierarchies to nationalism, religion, and sexual identities. It further interrogates the tensions and convergences between masculinity studies and feminist scholarship, emphasizing the need to re-center feminist values in work with men and boys. The report offers critical reflections on gaps in current male engagement approaches and proposes key takeaways for designing transformative, feminist-informed interventions.