User:Krischik/MGTOW (Men Going their Own Way)

The acronym MGTOW stands for Men Going Their Own Way and refers to men who advise avoiding relationships women, variously including marriage, having girlfriends, and/or even at times non-romantic relationships. The MGTOW community has been loosely associated with the Men's rights movement.

As described by prominent publications
In 2012, the MGTOW were described differently in various prominent publications.

In an investigative report critical of the men's rights movement, The Southern Poverty Law Center painted a negative picture of MGTOW men, presenting quotes from MGTOW that include violent metaphors. It quoted MGTOW advocates as dis-recommending marriage on the grounds that it allows the woman and the state to virtually kidnap a man's children, evict him from his home, steal his money, and enslave him for life on pain of prison.

In contrast, Dr. Jeremy Nicholson, M.S.W., Ph.d., for his column "The Attraction Doctor" in Psychology Today, viewed MGTOW more sympathetically, calling societal and female expectations on men in relationships a "double bind", which has left many men "wounded" or "frustrated" to the point that have chosen to "opt out" entirely and instead concentrate on making themselves happy in other ways.

In February, 2011, in an article about her published thesis that what she terms "the rise of women" has had a negative influence on men, American author Kay Hymowitz suggested the reader search for terms including "MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way)" for examples of young men frustrated by women who complain of inequality while demanding preferential treatment. 

As self-described
MGTOW describe themselves in self-published books and websites.

mgtow.com
Authors such as Kay Hymowitz suggest the popular website mgtow.com for readers interested in this matter. According to it, MGTOW are men who share a specific view, philosophy, or school of thought with regard to modern society, romantic relationships, and women in general. The website's states that, while the specific wording differs among individuals, generally accepted definitions within the MGTOW community online includes:


 * A man who is expected to protect his self-ownership and sovereignty
 * A man who avoids cultural definitions/preconceptions of what a "man" is
 * A man who looks to no one for social cues and approval
 * A man who does not allow anyone to treat him as a disposable utility
 * A man who lives according to his own best interests

The marriage contract is regarded as a bad deal for the male gender, so MGTOW advocate a life without it. Many self-identified MGTOW also advise men stay away from all romantic relationships, which they see as inherently dangerous and exploitative, or even in some cases women in general, who they see as manipulative by nature.