Lance
Your experience of the critique of masculinity is not uncommon. Many men
feel as if they have no role in society any more and that feminism, amongst
other critiques are to blame. When men complain about how they are worse off
than women, that they have it bad, that they are alway the brunt of unfair
criticism it certainly tells us something. One thing, I believe is that it
is hard to accept change. The men's movement, from my experience remains a
strongly misogynist movement of men who feel this way. Yes, they may be
experiencing grief, but it is a grief of dislocation, of being stuck
somewhere between being the traditional male and the expectations of what it
means to be a man today. It is, from my perspective, ridiculous to think
that men (as a group) are disadvantaged. You blame the system, and whether
you believe it or not, this is a system created in the image of man as an
affirmation of the cultural ideals of masculinity (and women are part of
this - Maggie Thatcher was called the Iron Lady)
To talk about the problems of 'dominant' masculinity is not to be
mistaken for calling all men bastards, but to recognise that there is a set
of social relations (of which men have greater access to) that are
historically and culturally based upon control and domination. I've felt the
competitive, adversarial, controlling hand of masculinity all my life, as a
man, growing up in a western capitalist patriarchal environment. I don't
hate
men, but challenge the gendered nature of our world.
It seems to men that if you want to work for reconciliation then you would
challenge the meanings of white people and whiteness. If you want to
challenge sexism then challenge masculinity (at this point in time). In both
cases neither means hating all whites or hating all men, but recognising
that dominance in our culture has certain histories.
Bring on the new man!
Ben
----- Original Message -----
From: Lance Kelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Monday, August 02, 1999 5:34 PM
Subject: Re: [recoznet2] Males
> Ben,
> the finite amount of white men in the corporate world (fro rememberthat
> corporate only makes upa very finiteamount of thepopulatiuon run that
world.
> They are NOT all white men - Im tired of the rhetoric blaming white men
for
> evrything I think its absolute bull shit. Ifthis was so whywould be dying
> earlier (much earlier) why would be committing suicide at a significantly
> higher rate, why are we basically being told we should be testubes.
> No sorry I have just spent three years in Social Science academia and I
> dontagree with what is being espoused what so ever. You only need to look
at
> the statistics to see the reality of the situation.
> Instead of blaming a gender for the inhumanity to man and generalising
what
> about getting back to some reality and doing someting about the problems
in
> society.
> The blame needs to lay fairly and squarely (if anywhere at all) on the
> political system of beliefs that we have developed. Until we have a truly
> socially democratic system nothing will change.
>
> Regards,Lance
> (Stop blaming males society)
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ben Wadham <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Monday, August 02, 1999 9:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [recoznet2] Males
>
>
> > Lance
> >
> > As a white man it is the culture of masculinity that I live in which
> causes
> > me a lot of grief. Certainly, Aboriginal men are highly disadvantaged,
no
> > question, but as I've grown up its been the highly competitive,
> aggressive,
> > adversarial culture of masculinity that has made me want to work for
> change.
> > I think changing men is a very important challenge and one that would
> > improve social justice across the globe. White men remain in charge of
the
> > western world and its globalising forces, its predominantly white men
and
> > other men who run the multinational corporate sector. And women get
caught
> > up in this, but it isnt their birthright as it is for most men. Stamp
out
> > hegemonic masculinity - that's my motto! To say that males in our
culture
> > don't have voice is like saying the colour white has no meaning in our
> > culture.
> >
> > Ben
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Lance Kelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Sent: Sunday, August 01, 1999 11:38 PM
> > Subject: [recoznet2] Males
> >
> >
> > > Trudy,
> > > If I was female I would be asking what about the females wheres their
> > > voice?. Would you see this as a problem too?
> > > I dont have a problem with asking for males to speak up, because in
the
> > > field of human endeavours they are few and far between. That doesn't
> > > discount your gender from commenting....my personal aim however is to
> > > encourage males to speak up.
> > > I didn't start the gender wars however I'm a victim of it, ...now I
want
> > to
> > > be a survivor....My aim in life is existing for men thats my language
> > thats
> > > my state of being. Ive spent quite a of time now looking at the
> > statistics
> > > in this country and males are not doing well at and especially
> aboriginal
> > > males so when ever I talk about things on issues I will push for the
> > plight
> > > of males, because thats what I know about.
> > > This is the same thing women have done with feminist thought. I make
no
> > > apology for this.
> > > When aboriginal men regain their sense of dignity and self - worth in
> > > society then we will have some equity happening.
> > > Sorry if this upsets you Trudy but until its accepted and theres'
> > something
> > > done about Im not about to change my view on this.
> > > As a male I dont think you or any feminist can see me as an equal
> person.
> > > Because you blame my gender for everything that is wrong in society,
> this
> > > hurts us as males and because we dont have the same communication
style
> > that
> > > you do we are already in a position of subservience.
> > > You will notice that I talk about my own gender because I cannot be
> > female.
> > > I'm male and I come from that perpective.
> > > Regards,
> > > Lance.
> > >
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