Drawing on empirical research and informed by recent theoretical discussions surrounding faith identities and masculinities, this article examines second and third generation, British born Sikh men's identification to the Sikh faith. In particular, it focuses on the appropriation and use of recognised Sikh symbols amongst young British men who define themselves as Sikh. This article suggests that whilst there are multiple of ways of 'being' a Sikh man in contemporary postcolonial Britain, and marking belonging to the Sikh faith, there is also a collectively understood idea of what an 'ideal' Sikh man should be. Drawing upon Connell and Messerschmidt's (2005) discussion of locally specific hegemonic masculinities, it is suggested that an ideal Sikh masculine identity is partly informed by a Khalsa discourse, which informs a particular construction and performance of Sikh male identity, whilst also encouraging the surveillance of young men's activities both by themselves and by others within the wider Sikh collective. These Sikh masculinities are complex and multiple, rotating to reaffirm, challenge and redefine contextualised notions of hegemonic masculinity within the Sikh diaspora in postcolonial Britain. Such localised Sikh masculinities may both assert male privilege and reap patriarchal dividends, resulting in particular and specific British Sikh hegemonic masculinities which seek to shape the performance of masculinity, yet in another context these very same performances of masculinity may also signify a more marginalised masculinity vis a vis other dominant hegemonic forms.
This article provides an insight into British South Asian men's experiences of care and caring. Care is gendered, however the ways in which care features in the lives of British Asian men is under-researched and demands attention, particularly given the changing demographics in the UK. The discussion draws on qualitative empirical research with a sample of British Asian men in their early thirties to early fifties. In depth interviews were conducted to consider roles and responsibilities within families and communities in relation to care, either as parents and/or as having ageing parents or grandparents. The findings give voice to British Asian men's experiences of care and enhance our understanding of care in the everyday and the complex and contested nature of contemporary British Asian masculinities. The findings challenge populist assumptions surrounding Asian men and provide an alternative insight into their experiences to highlight the centrality of care and caring in British Asian men's lives and to document that British Asian men do care. Whilst the stories of care are diverse, there is a strong sense that British Asian men value care, and place importance on being able to provide care and support to family.
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