Men, Masculinity and Nature in Rural Caste Society: Exploring Dynamics in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This paper investigates the relationship between men, masculinity, and nature in a rural caste-based society, with a particular focus on Tamil Nadu. Masculinity, a socially constructed concept, varies across cultures and historical periods. Men, masculinity and nature relation is primarily looked from the perspective of Ecofeminism, which critiques the interconnected oppression of women and nature within patriarchal systems. On the other hand, ecomasculinity specifically examines how traditional ideals of masculinity influence men’s attitudes and behaviours towards the environment. Employing the Ecomasculinty lens, this paper intends to explore the subtleties of the relationship between men, masculinity, and nature in a caste-based society in Tamil Nadu. The study employs textual analysis. The text considered is Heat by Poomani, translated into English by N. Kalyana Raman. The analysis will closely examine landscape representation, ecological elements, masculinity and the portrayal of caste in the novel. The caste system is considered vital in the study, as it influences the characters’ relationship with the land and their perceptions of nature. Overall, the paper aims to comprehensively understand the complex relationship between masculinity and nature, considering the intersectionality and plurality of masculinities in different social and cultural contexts. By exploring the relationship between men, masculinity, and nature in the caste-based society of Tamil Nadu, the study brings out the impact of social structures on the environment and how men relate to it in the said context.