Masculinity, Disability and Work: A New Materialist Perspective

Research has shown how women endure more hardships than men in relation to their experiences of a disability in the workplace, yet recently, there is considerably less attention given to how disability and work is experienced by men. We draw on the theoretical framework of new materialism, specifically posthumanist performativity to explore how material and discursive practices co-constitute the lived embodiment of disabled men. Drawing on relevant literature and data from eight men with disabilities and their experiences of employment, we explore how and in what way their identity is constructed. By providing a wider scope of inquiry, we demonstrate how multiple factors such as interpersonal relations, social discourses, materiality and emotion converge to impact the lived experiences of disabled men at work. This chapter is of relevance to practitioners and/or policy makers (government or organizational) looking to provide a more inclusive work environment for men and women who have disabilities.