Unraveling the stereotype that men's friendships are unemotional and shallow this book
provides the first detailed account of the bromance that exists among young men. Drawing on one
year of ethnography and 20 in-depth interviews among a university sport team the authors show
that these men reject traditional masculine boundaries instead prioritizing an emotional and
tactile form of friendship. Chapters detail the cultural shift in society's views on bromances
showing that bromances exists as an elevated more emotional and intimate form of friendship
existing as a further positive consequence of decreasing cultural homophobia. By focusing on
sport-which has traditionally been seen as a homophobic environment with toxic constructions of
manhood-the authors show that even in the most traditionally masculine of settings young men
are rethinking what male friendship looks like what it means to be a man and the positive
impact this can have on their mental health. This book will be relevant to a number of
audiences including scholars and students in masculinity studies queer studies and friendship
studies LGBTQ+ activists and allies with interest in straight men's friendships and sports
cultures and men's mental health advocates.
