Call for Papers: Scopus: Policing with Play: Humour, Ridicule, and the Construction of Hegemonic Masculinities in Asia-Pacific, Abstract Submission Deadline: September 21, 2026

Editor: Dr. Debapriya Ganguly

Journal: Intersections (Australia) (Q2, SCOPUS)

Is “just having a laugh” ever truly harmless? Critical masculinity studies reveal humour as a primary mechanism for producing, preserving, and regulating hegemonic masculinity. From schoolyard banter and corporate spaces to digital subcultures and military rituals, humour often functions as a subtle yet powerful social corrective establishing hierarchies, policing non-normative expressions, and defending male privilege under the guise of play.

This upcoming special issue interrogates the regulatory and defensive architecture of male humour, with a strong emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region alongside global comparative perspectives. We invite interdisciplinary scholars to submit original research articles, localized case studies, autoethnographies, and theoretical analyses.

Key Themes & Suggested Topics:
Mechanisms of Control: Ridicule, teasing, “jeer pressure,” and humour as a masculinity corrective
Language & Dynamics: Humour, slang, gender surveillance, and the production of heterosexuality
Hierarchies & Spaces: Humour across public/private spaces, intimacy, subversion, and “laddish” cultures
Everyday Tropes: Interrogations of homophobic banter, “dad/husband” jokes, and domestic tropes
Intersectional Contexts: How localized matrices such as postcolonial state-building, caste/class, filial patriarchies, and digital troll networks—shape masculine play

Important Dates
Abstract Submission Deadline: September 21, 2026
Abstract Acceptance Notification: September 28, 2026
Full Manuscript Submission: November 30, 2026

Send your abstract directly to debopriyaganguly6@gmail.com.