The Rhetorical Shaping of Gender: Men’s Movements in the United States Chapter 4

Men’s Movements in the U.S. American men have been less involved than women in gender movements White heterosexual men have rights and privileges

Profeminist Men’s Movements First Wave of Women’s movements – Most men opposed women’s efforts to gain rights – A few supported women’s struggle for rights

Profeminist Men’s Movements Second Wave of Women’s movements – Number of men supported liberal feminism – Number began to explore issues in men’s lives

Profeminist Men’s Movements Men’s movements – diverse political goals and strategies Evolving – new ones arising Since 1980s explosion of research on cultural shaping of masculinity Universities offer men’s studies

Profeminist Men’s Movements Profeminists, progressive men, male feminists Emerged in 1960s Some in New Left agreed with women’s criticism Ashamed when confronted with hypocrisy

Profeminist Men’s Movements Worked to bring attitudes and behavior in line with egalitarian ideology Joined forces with women to work for women’s rights Later generations attribute their feminism to model parents and teachers

Profeminist Men’s Movements Support women’s battles for equitable treatment Endorse: – Equal pay for equal work – End to discrimination – Increase in parental leave – Affordable child care

Profeminist Men’s Movements Strategy of traitorous identity Criticize commonly accepted attitudes or actions Engage in personal persuasion

Profeminist Men’s Movements Want to develop emotional capacities society discourages in men Forced to repress feelings Diminishes men’s humanity Encourage men to be more sensitive, caring, open

Profeminist Men’s Movements Political efforts Informal communication 1975 – Men and Masculinity Conference

NOMAS National Organization for Men Against Sexism Workshops to expand men’s awareness of ways emotional development hindered Help men change by offering guidance in becoming more sensitive

NOMAS Condemn aggression, violence, emotional insensitivity Fathering Task Group Newsletter Brother Learn more about NOMAS at: –

NOMAS Annual conference for more than 30 years Issues: – Resist power and privilege – End violence against women – End homophobic attitudes – Develop/enrich men’s studies at colleges and universities

Men’s Antiviolence Groups Violence against women not just a women’s issue Majority of violence against women enacted by men Prevention of violence a men’s issue

The White Ribbon Campaign International group – founded 1991 in Canada – In response to Montreal Massacre Take responsibility to speak out against violence against women –

The White Ribbon Campaign Spread to many countries Some chapters select Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day for events

The White Ribbon Campaign Present antiviolence workshops Encourage men to take responsibility for stopping violence Speak out against violence Talk with other men about issue Physical and emotional violence

The White Ribbon Campaign Not male bashers Active in supporting women’s groups Women not able to join

The White Ribbon Campaign Praised by men and women Criticism: – Group doesn’t go far enough in analysis Violence woven into society’s definition of masculinity

Mentors in Violence Prevention Katz gives workshops and speeches Trains men in mentoring other men to reject men’s violence Aims to educate men about socialization that links violence to masculinity

Mentors in Violence Prevention Men likely to be violent if have violent peers MVP aims to use power of peer influence to: – Teach aggression and violence linked to views of masculinity – Call attention to role of bystanders

Masculinist Men’s Movements Masculinist, promasculine Men suffer from discrimination because of their sex Need to reclaim manliness Disparage men who define selves as feminists Ignore or denounce gay men

The Men’s Rights Movement Conservative branch of men’s movement Restore traditional roles of men and women – MR, Inc. – National Coalition for Free Men – NOM

The Men’s Rights Movement Free Men – extreme group Restore pride in being real men Burden of provider role Men little more than meal ticket Learn more at: –

The Men’s Rights Movement Men being robbed of masculinity Oppose affirmative action and requiring men pay alimony and child support

The Men’s Rights Movement Want men to regain place as heads of families Superiority to women should not be tied to breadwinner role Lobby for reform of laws Condemn feminist men and women

The Men’s Rights Movement Think discrimination against men is greater than against women Believe women have the power – Military draft – Shorter life spans – More health problems – Child custody laws

Father’s Rights Groups Angry that men don’t have at least 50% custody of children after divorce Courts discriminate against men

Father’s Rights Groups Fathers 4 Justice – England – Dramatic stunts that often include humor Learn more at: –

Father’s Rights Groups Many groups in U.S.: – American Coalition for Fathers – Fathers and Families – Children and Dads Against Discrimination

Father’s Rights Groups 2005 – class-action custody suits Father has constitutional right to be a parent – Iowa and Maine only states that have encouraged courts to grant joint custody

Father’s Rights Groups Critique: – Only 52% of mothers receive full child support – Almost half of children not contacted by fathers following divorce

Mythopoetic Men 1980s – 1990s – founded by Bly Neoconservative politics with ideology from men’s groups Aims to foster personal growth, bonding Rediscover mythic roots of masculine thinking and feeling Restore men to primordial spirit

Mythopoetic Men Agree with feminists that current male role is toxic Don’t agree about nature of toxicity Traditional masculine ideal was positive Ideal manhood existed in ancient times

Mythopoetic Men Men’s connections to earth and comradeship ripped asunder by modernization Taken away from land and contact with natural life Industrialization separated men from families

Mythopoetic Men Views depart from profeminist men Lay blame for men’s emotional deficits on feminism Rhetorical strategy of ridiculing male and female feminists

Mythopoetic Men Need to recover male mode of feeling Need to reclaim courage, aggression, virility Qualities can be put to service of worthy goals Iron John recounts ancient myths of manhood

Mythopoetic Men Father hunger – grief born of yearning to be close to fathers and other men Get in touch with their grief and rediscover masculine feelings and energies

Mythopoetic Men Hold workshops and nature retreats – Gather in woods – Beat drums and chant – Listen to poetry and stories Help get in touch with father hunger and move toward positive feeling

Mythopoetic Men Movement received praise and blame Father hunger highlights anguish men feel Unwilling to confront gender inequality Largely white, middle class Movement has declined

Promise Keepers 1990 – McCartney and Wardell Idea of filling stadium with Christian men – 1991 – drew 4,200 men – Two years later – filled 50,000-seat stadium – Spread to seven sites in 1994

Promise Keepers Believe men fallen away from responsibilities Reconnection to commandments Urges men to be leaders of their families Learn more at: –

Promise Keepers Seven Promises 1. Honor Jesus 2. Pursue male relationships 3. Practice purity 4. Build strong families 5. Support church 6. Reach beyond barriers 7. Influence world for good

Promise Keepers Supporters: – Promotes values that build strong families – Call for male responsibility – Wives say marriages improved

Promise Keepers Reservations from others: – Women can’t attend meetings – Men should lean only on each other – Why can’t husbands and wives be equal? – Elitist

Promise Keepers Efforts to broaden membership and soften rhetoric 2003 – Fortson, African American, new head of movement

Promise Keepers Assert homosexuality is a sin Gays are leading immoral lives Makes those who support gays uncomfortable Some say more of a political than spiritual movement Reached peak in 1997 – rally at national mall

Promise Keepers Some have used movement to build grassroots ministries To draw men back to church, including martial hymns and preaching about rebellious Jesus Stress action over reflection, aggression over gentility

The Million Man March Many African American men felt men’s movements didn’t fit lives 1995 – Farrakhan – leader of Islam Nation Million Man March Goal – black men of all backgrounds atone for sins and reconcile

The Million Man March Pledge spiritual transformation and political action Register to vote Fight drugs Against unemployment and violence Recommit to wives and families Active in churches and communities

The Million Man March Viewed as positive movement for black men Criticism: – Women are excluded – Encourages to base rage on racial identity – Antifeminist and antigay

The Million Man March Model for other groups: ◦ Million Woman March ◦ Million Youth March ◦ Million Moms March ◦ Million Family March

The Million Man March 2005 – Farrakhan – Million More Movement Inclusive of all sexes, races, sexualities Focus on racial disparities

The Million Man March See the movie trailer for Spike Lee’s Get on the Bus (R-rated)at: – / /