This discussion has been restarted on the next post, where the discussion emphasis is less on the attack/defense of feminism in general and more on the place of male feminists within feminism (i. e., on topic).
I am a feminist. By this I mean that I believe that nationally and globally, there is de facto political, economic and social dominance of men over women. Society inherently values men more than women in most areas of public social life. I believe that these inequities need to be corrected.
That said, I struggle as a male feminist. I’m not embarrassed about my stance on women’s rights, and I happily evangelize the feminist cause to other men. The problem for me is that I’m not quite sure of what a man’s place in feminism should be. As I throw out a few questions, I hope that they will be taken in the questioning, neophyte spirit that they’re offered.
I hesitate to be much more than a cheerleader in feminist circles. I’m always worried that my intrusion into a female-dominated feminist dialogue will be perceived as an the insertion of male authority. (And I cringe whenever I see men undermine feminism in such forums, especially online, and I hope that I’m not doing the same thing with this post.)
As I pursue my academic career, I write and present papers on feminist topics, but I get the sense that my professors and even some of my fellow feminists don’t take me seriously. I’m continually drawn to feminist theory, issues, and concerns as I think about research projects, but part of me feels that making this my main focus would kill my career before it even had a chance to get started. In the insanely competitive academic market, who would hire a man to teach feminist theory, when there are so many women who would be better qualified?
I’m trying to resist these stifling impulses because I feel that in order for sexism to be eradicated, men need to be converted to feminism. My vision of the success of feminism is a world in which both sexes are true and equal partners, and much of the masculine=positive, feminine=negative notions are blended together. It would seem to me that feminism should be perceived as a mixed movement. Men need to become heavily involved in it, but this means the possibility of male engagement, criticism and leadership within feminism. I realize that this is problematic (men would have to overcome all sorts of issues with power), but is it antithetical to the feminist cause?
In practical terms, is feminism a woman-only movement? Are feminist forums essentially female forums? Is it possible to discuss feminism as a female and male issue, as a joint concern of both men and women? Is there a place for men in feminism?
