On Being a Man : Four Scottish Men in Conversation

What does ‘masculinity’ mean today?

On Being a Man brings together four men to consider the condition of Scottish men, reflect on their own backgrounds and experiences, and confront some of the most difficult issues men face. These include the changing roles of men in Scottish society, the role of work and employment.

What it means to be a man is very different from forty years ago: in terms of expectations, relationships, how men relate to partners, bring up children and what constitutes a modern family. However, there is a dark side of Scottish masculinity – seen in the drinking, violent, abusive behaviour of some Scots men, and this book addresses this directly, getting into issues many of us often shy away from confronting.

Draws on the wide-ranging voices of: journalist, writer and broadcaster, David Torrance; founder of a youth employment and mentoring charity, Sandy Campbell; public health researcher, Pete Seaman; and former policeman and head of the violence reduction unit, John Carnochan.

Sandy Campbell is the creator of Working Rite which is a mentoring project for teenagers.

John Carnochan was a policeman for 39 years before establishing the Violence Reduction Unit.

Pete Seaman has conducted extensive research in issues that affect Scottish men such as alcohol consumption, gang involvement and fatherhood.