Why women love the Boss

Bruce Springsteen is seen as one of the quintessential writers of male experience, but as a new book explores, his connection with female listeners is just as complex

- Herpreet Kaur Grewal

At Bruce Springsteen's recent show in Edinburgh, a fan managed to hand the 73-year-old rock icon a copy of his dissertation about masculinity. Pondering the masculinity of the Boss is logical: his themes include brotherhood, father-son conflict and the trials of physical labour; his songs are populated with downtrodden blue-collar workers, suicidal firefighters, forgotten soldiers returning from various wars, and economically disempowered men driven to murder. Indeed, he's seen as one of the quintessential writers of the male experience. So why does he appeal to so many women?