User:Gweidner/Men in feminism

Since the 19th century, men have taken part in significant cultural and political responses to feminism within each "wave" of the movement. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in a range of social relations, generally done through a "strategic leveraging" of male privilege. Feminist men have also argued alongside writers like bell hooks, however, that men's liberation from the socio-cultural constraints of sexism and gender roles is a necessary part of feminist activism and scholarship. Men have been in support and radically opposed of feminist narratives, as they play a part in their emancipation as well through change such as the Men's liberation movement in the 70s, their own sense of freedom. Ideas of Intersectionality and freedom of expression are incorporated within that movement. Within the sphere of pop culture, many male celebrities identify as feminists such as Harry Styles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Throughout history musicians in the popular sphere such as Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, who openly identified as a feminist, wearing dresses to concerts and speaking in favor of gay rights.

Men's liberation movement[edit]
Further information: Men's liberation

The men’s liberation movement is a social movement which started in the late 1960-70s.[circular reference] Men’s liberation activists are generally nice to feminists’ standpoints. In more detail the men’s liberation movement stresses the negative portions of the traditional masculinity. And overall, the men’s liberation movement and the men’s rights movement are totally different. The MRM is more of unequal or unfair treatment of men. The MLM is kind of a liberation for men from stereotypes and things that prevent them from expressing their feelings and emotions just because they are “men”. Feminist and gender scholars believe that the MLM was created among heterosexual middle-class men to respond to the cultural changes happening back then.[circular reference] The Mens’ movement has been criticized given that men benefit the most from the power structures put in place. Some feminists believe that the movement served only to reconfigure the structure to make life easier for men, whilst leaving the oppressed behind. Robert Bly, a writer within the mythopoetic men’s movement draws from history, philosophy, in his writing to encourage men to build community with each other.

Also note Robert Bly’s idea surrounding “Zeus Power” and the notion of a man defined by whiteness, and behavior towards women within a male archetype. Also challenged by feminist thinkers in terms of his means of “initiation” and the connection to cult competition in patriarchal environments. Most of the men attending these meetings would also be white middle or upper class ruling men so the notion of being true to every male experience in terms of race or class is debated. Regarding benefits, the more positive idea relating to the feminist movement was the way that the men needed not come across as oppressed if they didn't adhere to the standards set to them. Androgyny was also explored as a concept and as some of them rose to cultural position with power and were able to express more vulnerability within the community.Governmentally tactics were also used in propaganda and delivery of politicians, including Presidents such as Ronald Reagan, whilst women were still considered weak. It has come across as no debate that feminists believe that it is immediately necessary to also incorporate the emancipation of women in men’s activism and essential to the ability for anyone to assume the power of freedom. It is within feminist knowledge that the place to start with mens advocacy is support for men with less privilege and class power. This would mean a movement that doesn't only follow the hegemonic model that could manage to take center stage and could start to help people center intersectionality in their practice.The practice would center around black men and gay men as well as men of all races and orientations that would help make way for their spaces to women who also come from similar backgrounds. [

The men's liberation movement began in the early 1970s as consciousness-raising groups to help men free themselves from the limits of sex roles. Proponents of men's liberation argued that male bonding is a mechanism to conform men's identities to a single sense of masculinity, which reinforces patriarchy. In lieu of such bonding, the men's liberation movement called for open acknowledgment of the costs of masculinity: men's entrapment in their fixed role as the breadwinner of the nuclear family and the taboo against men expressing emotions. Most significantly, this movement intended to make it acceptable for men to be open about their emotions while maintaining their masculinity.

Regarding the writings of this movement, Jack Sawyer writes in On Male Liberation about the importance of not adhering to roles of dominance over social structures. He believed that the change is up to the individual and therefore placed more responsibility on the man to care for himself over others rather than perpetuating subjugation of other identities. He addresses the inability to experience Affect (psychology) freely due to social organization and encourages vulnerability and compassion. He notes a rise of competition socially and globally that has effects in terms of how the world is run and that it deeply ties to the fact that the white male has privilege access and domination over the world. This idea ties into his belief around stereotypical sexual roles that encourages violence against women and achieving a more balanced and accepting environment.

Feminist men in popular culture[edit]
In 2014, several high-profile events led to the continued presence of feminist issues in the media. These included Bring Back Our Girls, HeForShe campaign, the Gamergate controversy, Malala Yousafzai winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and sexual assault allegations being made against Jian Ghomeshi and Bill Cosby.

Harry Styles deems himself a feminist as had identified with the HeForShe campaign, as we'll as Joseph Gordon-Levitt who tries to make a change through his project called Hit Record

Men and the #MeToo Movement
The MeToo movement was started through through exposing harassment in Hollywood. More than 201 cases were opened, against abusers such as Harvey Weinstein. Men were in support and against the movement, Loius C.K discussing how long it takes men to lose their jobs when the misuse their power. In place of the men who lost their jobs, 51 women took their place. This includes the replacement of Lockhart Steele with Melissa Bell, Roy Price with Albert Cheng and Jennifer Salke, Kevin Spacey with Robin Wright and Christopher Plummer, Hamilton Fish with Rachel Rosenfelt, Michael Oreskes with Nancy Barnes, Ira Silverstein with Maddie Hunter.

Recent studies[edit]
In 2001, a qualitative study of men's perception of feminism showed pervasive patterns of linear reasoning. Researchers found that the participants identified two genres of feminism and two strains of feminists, and dubbed it the 'Jekyll and Hyde' binary. The participants would classify feminism and feminists as either "good" or "monstrous". In 2016 the study was repeated by a new team of researchers to find that the binary persisted, as "unreasonable feminism" and "fair feminism. A poll conducted by The Washington Post found that thirty three percent of United States men saw themselves as a form of a feminist, whilst fifty percent didn't have an opinion with feminism and the rest were against.

Men react very defensively and close up when asked about their stands and they also believe that staying away from feminists is best for everyone. Even thought things are changing, there is a lot of stigma around these topics and they should definitely be addressed, especially by people who have the means and platforms to do so.[original research?]