Embodied heterosexual masculinities, Part 1: Confluent intimacies, emotions and health

This and an accompanying article (Robertson and Monaghan forthcoming) constitute a developmental 'think piece' on embodied heterosexual masculinities, emotions and health. After highlighting the imbrications of heterosexual intimacy, hegemonic masculinity and health - alongside a note on the relevance and limitations of existing literature - our discussion includes: a critical acknowledgement of (different) feminist scholarship and queer theory; reflections on the 'pure relationship' and 'confluent' or 'liquid love'; the 'individualisation thesis' and the rise of 'abstract knowledge'; the separation of love from sex as a possible masculine ruse; corporeality, eroticism and the rationalisation of sex. In conclusion, we underscore the need for more research on embodied masculinities, heterosexualities and emotions.