Feeling Gender

This sociological study offers a compelling longitudinal analysis of how gender feelings and identities have transformed across three generations of women and men throughout the twentieth century. By examining interconnected family lines across different social classes, the author traces the subtle evolution of gender norms and the emotional landscapes that accompany them. The research provides a nuanced look at what gets passed down through generations versus what triggers significant shifts in how people experience their gender. This open access work delivers a sophisticated exploration of the emotional dimensions of gender socialization and change.

What distinguishes this analysis is its focus on the emotional undercurrents of gender transformation—the gradual shifts in feeling that precede and accompany broader social changes. The book will particularly resonate with readers interested in intergenerational studies, feminist theory, and the sociology of emotion, offering rich qualitative insights into how gender feelings evolve both between generations and between women and men within the same generation. The result is a thought-provoking examination of how new emotional understandings of gender gradually reshape our collective experience of identity.