'Don't Look Now' - Masculinities, Altruistic Fear and the Spectre of Self: When, Why and How Men Fear for Others

Abstract

This article draws on the contentious concept of the fear of crime and in particular focuses on two factors which, it is argued, have been afforded insufficient consideration in the 'fear of crime' debate, those of gender and age, and uses them to examine a form of 'fear' that has also been neglected; that of 'altruistic' fear. Based on data from a qualitative study with men and boys the article argues that the concept of a gendered selfhood is fundamental to understanding how men worry about other people. The traditional conceptualisation of altruistic fears is thereby contested and suggestions are made for a new conceptualisation of fears which involve others.