Taking a closer look : do men in Germany re- or un-learn masculinity before a reduction in working hours?

Kammerlander, Lukas (author)

This article explores transformative learning processes preceding work time reductions in men in Germany. Drawing on qualitative data from biographical case studies, it investigates how men narrate and make sense of reducing their working hours, and how these learning processes relate to hegemonic masculinity. Building on Hoggan’s (2016) transformative learning framework, the analysis examines the depth, breadth, and relative stability of the narrated transformations as well as their affective, epistemological, and behavioural dimen-sions. The findings show that while all analysed cases comprise significant learning processes, the orientation and gender-political implications of these transformations vary widely. The examined cases are grouped in relation to the processes of the hybridisation of hegemonic masculinity that allow symbolic distancing from traditional masculinity ideals without challenging structural privilege and more radical breaks with dominant norms. By linking masculinity, transitions, and transformative learning, the article contributes to understanding how men (un)learn masculinity in the context of life-course transitions and shifting gender orders.

• Language: English
• Keywords: adult education, transformative learning, biographical learning, men and masculinities, hybrid masculinity, work transitions
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2025
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 61-77
• Numbering: Letn. 31, [št.] 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-178412
• UDC: 374.7
• ISSN on article: 1318-5160
• COBISS.SI-ID: 255856643
• Publication date in RUL: 27.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Andragoška spoznanja
• Shortened title: AS. Andrag. spozn.
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 1318-5160
• COBISS.SI-ID: 45586176

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Podrobnejši pogled: se pred skrajšanjem delovnega časa moški v Nemčiji ponovno učijo ali odučijo moškosti?
• Keywords: transformativno učenje, biografsko učenje, moški in moškosti, hibridna moškost, prehodi na področju dela