Associate professor in Sociology, North-West University (Potchefstroom).
Google Scholar profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UvOAV4oAAAAJ&hl=en
Jacques is an associate professor in sociology at the North-West University in Potchefstroom. He obtained his BA degree in Journalism and his Honours in Sociology (both cum laude) from the University of Johannesburg. He was appointed at NWU in 2007 and completed his Master’s and PhD-degrees in Sociology the NWU in 2009 and 2014, respectively.
Jacques’ areas of academic specialisation include gender and sexuality studies – with a particular interest and passion for research about topics related to gay masculinities. He continues to navigate the dynamic terrain of sexuality studies to provide a nuanced picture of the everyday lives of gay men and their fellow LGBTIAQ+ counterparts. His sustained perseverance to foreground these topics in South African research, including publications in peer-reviewed academic journals (Acta Academia, Agenda, Gender Questions, Journal of LGBT Youth and South African Review of Sociology, among others), supervising honours, Master’s and doctoral students and lecturing courses on sexual diversity (which will again continue in 2023), resulted in a National Research Foundation rating in 2020.
He recently published his monograph entitled Macho Men in South African Gyms: The Idealization of Spornosexuality (published by Palgrave MacMillan). The book focuses on how South African gay and heterosexual men ascribe to the features of inclusive and spornosexual masculinities, i.e., the importance they assign to gym work, pornography and social media to define and enact their sexual identities.
Some of the reviews of the book:
“Rothmann’s book investigates the life-worlds of heterosexual and gay men in contemporary South African gyms. Through his analysis, Rothmann compellingly demonstrates the ways in which men espoused expressions of inclusive masculinities through their training and interactions in the gym and their reflections on their masculinity and others’. This book is invaluable for scholars interested in the sociology of sport, gender and sexualities.” – Dennis Francis, Professor of Sociology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
“This superbly crafted book probing ‘macho men’ and spornosexuality makes a critical contribution to the study of men and masculinities in South Africa. Rothmann’s empirical work is rich and in-depth, and his embracing of inclusive masculine theory is very compelling. The book offers nuanced insight into how gym enthusiasts, men who spend time conscientiously shaping up their bodies, reflect on their and others’ masculinities. This is an enjoyable read and an example of exemplary sociological scholarship.” – Kammila Naidoo, Professor of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
To order a printed or e-book please visit the Springer/Palgrave MacMillan website: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-15440-9
