Men writing their lives : situating the authoring processes of zinesters

Research on men’s literacy practices, particularly their writing practices, is sparse. The purpose of this study was to examine the writing practices of adult men by focusing on why and how men write autobiographical comic zines and perzines of prose, poetry, and cartoons reflecting online and offline hybridity. A theory of writing as meaning making, a social semiotic perspective, and a view of masculinities as inclusive representations of gender identity informed this study. Using a multiple case study approach, we focused on five middle-class men ranging in age from their early 30s to early 40s who created zines reflecting two different writing genres: autobiographical comic zines and personal zines, or perzines. Data were triangulated by observations, photographs, informal and semi-structured interviews, demographic questionnaires, and examination of the men’s zines. Data were analysed inductively by thematic analysis and deductively by principles of the theoretical framework. Findings are drawn about the type of representations, compositional constructions, messages, audience, and community. Men wrote to share life lessons, to express alternative notions of masculinities, and for catharsis. This study provides insight into the literacy practices of adult men that may serve as models to inspire and guide other men’s writing.