Male, Failed, Jailed Masculinities and “Revolving-Door” Imprisonment in the UK

“Maguire’s development of the concept of “prison masculinities” is highly valuable … . This important study has shone a light on the experiences of an extremely marginalized group of men in a hidden social context, who have shared highly personal and honest observations on their lives. Maguire has achieved this in a sensitive and reflexive way, openly weighing his own positionality as the researcher throughout, influenced by feminist-inspired critical masculinities approaches.” (Stephen R. Burrell, Men and Masculinities, August 26, 2021)

“Maguire contributes to our knowledge of how masculinities, informed by class and protest masculinities, affect criminal involvement. … Maguire’s Male, Failed and Jailed makes an important contribution to our understanding of the connection between environment, performance masculinities, and identity for men.” (L George Sheppard and Rosemary Ricciardelli, Punishment & Society, July 26, 2021)

“Maguire focuses on the role masculinity plays in the lives of 30 men he interviewed in prison in Hull. … Charting these men’s journeys, Maguire skilfully weaves together the empirical data with his analysis and the literature to show the way masculinities are formed and entrenched, … culminating for some in the prison’s Vulnerable Prisoner Unit (VPU). … Maguire’s appeal for greater attention to masculinity and how it affects all those in prison and beyond is insightful.” (Marguerite Schinkel, The British Journal of Criminology, July 1,2021)