Politics of manhood: Martyrs, mystics and merchants

Drawing on historical and contemporary contexts, particularly within Islamic traditions, the workshop will examine the ways in which martyrdom, mysticism and mercantilism have historically shaped – and been shaped by – gendered ideologies. 

Participants will also discuss the ways in which women and youth intersect with, contest or reinforce masculine archetypes of the martyr, mystic and merchant. Such archetypes are deeply embedded in global histories of colonialism, anti-colonial resistance, and the expansion of modern capitalism (and of particular recent interest with regard to Muslim identities).

Key questions

The workshop will address key questions, including:

1. How do martyrdom, mysticism and mercantilism articulate competing and complementary visions of masculinity (within Islamic contexts and beyond)? 
2. In what ways have these masculine archetypes been shaped by – and responded to – colonial and postcolonial histories? 
3. How do women, through familial, spiritual or economic roles, engage with, challenge or uphold these constructs of masculinity? 
4. What role do adolescence and boyhood play in cultivating these masculine identities, and how are notions of 'becoming a man' shaped through religious/spiritual, political and economic systems?

The workshop aims to produce a collaborative edited volume or a special journal issue that synthesizes its findings. Additionally, it will create an interdisciplinary network of scholars exploring masculinities in historical, religious and political contexts. 

By foregrounding the intersections of gender, age and power, this workshop will contribute to ongoing debates in gender studies and the critical study of men and masculinities.

Panellists and topics

1. Professor Jeff Hearn, Senior Professor, Human Geography
2. Professor Ruard Ganzevoort, Rector, International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague
3. Dr Srdjan Sremac, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Religion and Theology, Vrije University, Amsterdam
4. Dr Younes Saramfar, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Art and Culture, Vrije University, Amsterdam 
5. Dr Romit Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
6. Dr Afiya S. Zia, Feminist Scholar, Activist and Author
7. Dr Annika Schmeding, Senior Researcher at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam
8. Dr Saad Ali Khan, Assistant Professor Centre of Excellence in Gender Studies, QAU Pakistan and Visiting Fellow, International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague

The topics that the panellists and participants will discuss include:

• Politics, religion/spirituality, economics and spatiality: Critical men and masculinities in academia and beyond
• Piety, populism and political masculinities 
• Mystical masculinities and changing contexts