JOURNAL ARTICLE

I'd Kill to Belong! Comparing Brahmanical, Samurai, and Gentleman Masculinities in the Early Modern Period.

  • Published In: Journal of Men's Studies, 2025, v. 33, n. 2. P. 277 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Pal, Satanik 3 of 3

Abstract

The article analyzes the concept of masculine honor among high-status men in early modern Bengal, Japan, and England, focusing on Brahmins, samurai, and gentlemen respectively. It highlights how these men regulated marriage and female sexuality within their status groups and often resorted to ritualized violence to preserve honor, which functioned as a crucial social currency granting access to exclusive privileges. Despite cultural differences, all three groups emphasized patriarchal control, household management, and public reputation, with violence serving as a means to maintain social standing and group membership. The study underscores that masculine honor was a collective, hereditary resource tied to status, and its preservation was vital enough to provoke lethal actions to uphold belonging within elite communities.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Men's Studies. 2025/06, Vol. 33, Issue 2, p277
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:1060-8265
  • DOI:10.1177/10608265241282950
  • Accession Number:184593702
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