Issue Details: First known date: 2001... 2001 Marsden and Masculinity : A Gender Analysis of Dear Miffy
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

Pearce critiques John Marsden's novel Dear Miffy (1997) as a narrative that reinforces the polarisation of the sexes in a post-feminist climate and at a time when masculinity is seen to be in crisis. Further, she argues Marsden's representations of fathers (and mothers) supports the notion that the revitalisation of manhoood is 'essential for healing the wounded nature of modern masculinity' and that the narrative is fundamentally about 'father hunger' (p.34). The protagonist of the novel fits Bob Connell's description of 'protest masculinity' as he struggles with his masculinity, relationships and socio-economic circumstances. Pearce points out that rigid class demarcations in the text not only underlie stereotyped representations of 'the have and have-nots' but link class with the 'traditional notion that manhood is an achievment not a given and that it must be earned, won and fought for through various trials and ritualized suffering' (pp.33-34).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

Last amended 25 Sep 2007 13:53:01
32-37 Marsden and Masculinity : A Gender Analysis of Dear Miffysmall AustLit logo Papers : Explorations into Children's Literature
X