Mötet mellan skäggiga män : Hur ett socialt möte skapar en plats

ABSTRACT Today our physical appearance is more important than before. The way we physically present ourselves is how many of us would like to be seen. By acting a certain way, dressing a certain way or spend time with a certain social group we identify ourselves. A certain style that an individual presents can say something about what that individual are interested in and how the person spends his or her time. Today many complement their physical appearance with a physical attribute like a beard. Beard is seen as something that is trendy and masculine. Many men identify themselves with their beard, even thou it is only a part of the male physical appearance. In Sweden there is a beard contest called “En Karl Med Skägg” this is an event with an audience that nominates Sweden’s best beard of ten final contestants. Men all over the country apply for the contest. A jury then selects ten men that will be the final contestants for the best beard of Sweden. This thesis is going to analyze the social meeting that the participants create while participating in the contest and the importance of that meeting to them. While participating in the event, participants give the place of the event a meaning and the place of the event also got a meaning to the participants both socially and geographically. These men create a social place that is time-stretched with an importance to them. This thesis is also going to examine how this type of event symbolizes modern culture and how the male gaze is of higher importance than before historically. The thesis is going to analyze the connection between the male self-identification and participating in a social meeting between others, by appearance similar individuals