Gender and the Race for Space

Masculinity and the American Astronaut, 1957-1983

Erinn McComb

$125

Hardback

Forthcoming
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English

Anthem Press
10 June 2025

Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000; Social & cultural history; The Cold War; Gender studies, gender groups; Aerospace & aviation technology

Series: Anthem Intercultural Transfer Studies

The American astronaut image was informed by early Cold War ideals of masculinity that helped mold a distinctly American (anti-communist) masculinity, which appeared - on the surface anyway - to resolve not only an American 'crisis of masculinity' but helped win the Cold War on an ideological and popular level.

This American image focused on strict gender binaries of man as the protector, controlling technology and containing communism, while woman was the passive actor with spaceflight technology - left behind in the home waiting for the return of the astronaut husband. Allowing women to fly into space would have represented a lack of individual control with spaceflight technology.

By: Erinn McComb
Imprint: Anthem Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 153mm, Spine: 26mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781839987175
ISBN 10: 1839987170
Series: Anthem Intercultural Transfer Studies
Pages: 250
Publication Date: 10 June 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Further / Higher Education
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Erinn McComb, PhD, is Associate Professor of History at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. She researches the intersection of gender with foreign policy, science, and technology.