The document discusses various perspectives on men and feminism, including: - Feminism seeks equal rights and opportunities for women in areas like education, employment, and politics. It has occurred in three waves dealing with different issues. - Men have participated in both supporting and opposing feminism through history. Some men's groups have argued that feminism also benefits men by challenging traditional gender roles. - There are debates around whether men can truly be feminists or are just allies due to continued societal privilege. Some women's groups have been wary of men dominating feminist spaces. - Other topics discussed include pro-feminist men's groups, men's liberation movements, backlash against feminism

1. Feminism
and Men
PROF. MELISSA REMEDIOS

2. Your best quote that reflects your
approach… “It’s one small step for
man, one giant leap for mankind.”
- NEIL ARMSTRONG

3. Understanding feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and
defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to
establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. The history of the
modern western feminist movements is divided into three "waves". Each is described as
dealing with different aspects of the same feminist issues.
The first wave refers to the movement of the 19th through early 20th centuries, which dealt
mainly with suffrage, working conditions and educational rights for women and girls. The
second wave (1960s1980s) dealt with the inequality of laws, as well as cultural inequalities
and the role of women in society. The third wave of feminism (late 1980searly 2000s
(decade)), is seen as both a continuation of the second wave and a response to the
perceived failures.

4. What has feminism got to do with
men
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.
All men are socialized to view women as property, objects, and as having less value than
men. That collective socialization lays the foundation for all forms of violence and
discrimination to persist. Workplace gender inequality is just one of those forms.

5. Can Men be feminist
Men can be pro-feminist and anti-sexist, I do not believe we can be feminists in the strictest
sense of the word in today's society. Men, in this patriarchal system, cannot remove
themselves from their power and privilege in relation to women.
To be a feminist one must be a member of the targeted group (ie a woman) not only as a
matter of classification but as having one's directly-lived experience inform one's theory and
praxis."
Women feminists have also voiced misgivings about men's involvement in the movement.
Some men, they argue, automatically assume a dominant role when they become activists,
claiming to be better feminists than feminist women, and failing to recognize and challenge
their own sexist behaviour. These so-called fellow travellers merely reinforce the tired gender
stereotyping that feminism seeks to subvert, and by their domineering behaviour, they
silence women's voices and perpetuate existing male power and oppression.

6. Men Participation in gender
equality
Gender equality refers to the goal of achieving equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities
of women and men and boys and girls. Equality does not mean that women and men will
become the same in their personality orientation, but that their rights, responsibilities and
opportunities will not depend on whether they are born male or female
Equal rights, opportunities and access to resources, equal sharing of responsibilities for the
family by men and women, and a harmonious partnership between them are critical to their
well-being and that of their families as well as to the consolidation of democracy.” Source:
United Nations (1995a)
“There is a huge gap between egalitarian attitudes and social praxis. For example, more and
more men express the wish to be involved actively in parenthood, not limiting fatherhood to
being the economic provider. But only 2 per cent of fathers make use of the possibilities of
parental leave.”

7. Framing men in feminism
‘Man Question’ in feminism, by way of the analysis of men’s diverse gender-conscious positionings
in relation to gender, gender equality and feminism. It builds on earlier work, making use of
theoretical models in feminist literature combined with the micro-sociological concept of passing.
This idea is primarily concerned with the theoretical and empirical complexities, contradictions and
ambiguities of men’s positionings, as when they are self-defined as ‘feminists’ (or similar
identifications) in radical or deconstructive ways.
In Sweden it is considered particularly interesting, with a qualified societal consensus on gender
equality and a broadly positive place accorded to men’s relations with feminism. It is argued that
there is a need to further dialogue between analyses of men/masculinities and the
multidimensionality of feminisms, as well as a need for more empirical studies of men’s different
(pro)feminist positionings in order to elaborate the theoretical implications of different social
contexts.

8. Anti-feminist
Male antifeminism is often incorrectly, equated with male chauvinism.
• Male Rights - men, not women, were the true victims of gender oppression
• Burden of traditional male breadwinner role, shorter life expectancy, inequalities in divorce
issues, custody laws, and abortion rights

9. Masculinist
Men to re-establish a more traditional masculine ideal in order to prevent the feminization of
society
• Men have been hurt by feminist advances
• Boy Scouts, YMCA
An ideology of a masculinist opposes to or opposed by the ideas of feminism.
Sociologists Arthur Brittan and Satoshi Ikeda describe masculinism as an ideology justifying male
domination in society.
Masculinism, according to Brittan, maintains that there is "a fundamental difference" between men
and women and rejects feminist arguments that male–female relationships are political constructs.

10. Pro-feminist
Male groups who fully side with feminist arguments
Plato suggests an ‘ideal’ state in which women would receive equal education and opportunities to participate
in activities of the state,
Pro-feminism refers to support of the cause of feminism without implying that the supporter is a member of
the feminist movement. The term is most often used in reference to men ("male feminists") who actively
support feminism and its efforts to bring about the political, economic, cultural, personal, and social equality of
women with men. A number of pro-feminist men are involved in political activism, most often in the areas of
gender equality, women's rights, and ending violence against women.
As feminist theory found support among a number of men who formed consciousness-raising groups in the
1960s, these groups were differentiated by preferences for particular feminisms and political approaches.
However, the inclusion of men's voices as "feminist" presented issues for some

11. Men’s liberation movement
Men’ liberation movement began in the early 1970s as consciousness-raising groups to help men free themselves
from the limits of sex roles.
Entrapment in their fixed role as the breadwinner of the nuclear family and the taboo against men expressing
emotions.
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.
The link between the biological male sex and the social construction of masculinity was seen by some scholars as a
limitation on men's collaboration with the feminist movement. This sharply contrasted with sex role theory which
viewed gender as something determined by biological differences between the sexes. Other key elements of the
men's liberation movement were the ideas that genders are relational and each cannot exist without the other, and
that gender as a whole is a social construction and not a biological imperative. Thus, second-wave pro-feminist
writers were able to explore the interactions between social practices and institutions, and ideas of gender.

12. Backlash against feminism
Many young woman today dismiss feminist ideals
• Role models such as Paris Hilton, Katie Price and loads of celebs portray anti-feminist
approach in their own representation
• Are they dressing for themselves or men?
• This is post feminist thinking • Feminism is involved with the study of representations – how
feminism is used as a critical approach to the analysis of culture - Is the internet a liberating
force or another site of oppression via pornography? - Is suburbia a reflection of the
separation of home from work, women from the world of work ? - Is architecture a reflection
of male ego? - How are women shown in media? - How does language define gender roles?

13. Feminists hate men
We hate male privilege and the systems that create and re-establish it. “Not all men” are
awful, but all men benefit from male privilege.
Feminism is about dismantling the systems in which people are oppressed for their gender
identity, those same systems that privilege cisgender men.
Its one of the myths of feminism that it is anti-men because of the cultural and gender critics
ideas in opposing feminism as a concept, one can be a man and still be a feminist.
The notion of feminist hating men is coming from the idea of constructing it from the sexism
point of view.
Patriarchy stands in the way of making men feminists.

14. Men’s place in feminism
Stand up against other men if they’re showing problematic or threatening behaviour
Know that you don’t deserve any extra praise for being a decent person
Use your own space and platform to share ideas and ideals
Don’t contribute to restrictive gender roles and norms.
Listen to women & the experiences of other; learn from them.

15. Men’s studies
Masculinity scholars seek to broaden the academic discourse of gender through men's studies. While some feminists
argue that most academic disciplines, except women's studies, can be considered "men's studies" because they claim
that the content of the curriculum consists of primarily male subjects, masculinity scholars assert that men's studies
specifically analyzes men's gendered experiences.
Central to men's studies is the understanding that "gender" does not mean "female," the same way "race" does not
mean "black." Men's studies are typically interdisciplinary, and incorporate the feminist conception that "the personal is
political." Masculinity scholars strive to contribute to the existing dialogue about gender created through women's
studies.
There are various arguments and movements that support the cause for gender equality as it relates to
feminism. Jackson Katz suggests that we have a responsibility to help youths to create a society that will prevent
future generations from experiencing the current issues regarding gender equality.
Gender studies is often referred to as women's issues. Women's issues are sometimes viewed as issues that men
contribute to. Katz argues that women's issues should be men's issues as well. Katz believes that when both genders
work together, there is a change that the next generation can use to avoid suffering similar tragedies

16. Feminist men’s rights
The men's rights movement is a branch of men's movement. The MRM in particular consists of a
variety of groups and individuals who focus on general social issues and specific government
services which adversely impact, or in some cases structurally discriminate against, men and
boys.
The movement also concerns itself with parenting, reproduction, suicides, domestic violence
against men, circumcision, education, conscription, social safety nets, and health policies. The
men's rights movement branched off from the men's liberation movement in the early 1970s, with
both groups comprising a part of the larger men's movement.
Since its inception, the MRM has received substantial criticism, with some scholars describing the
movement or parts of it as a backlash against feminism. Claims and activities associated with the
men's rights movement have been criticized and labeled hateful and violent.

17. Men’s activism rights- Equality for
men a myth or reality
MRAs are activists (both male and female)that try and bring about issues that tend to be
predominate male orientated and ignored by the majority of society in similar way that issues
within feminism are. Its about equal rights for both sexes.
The men's right movements is not about seeking privileges for men.
It is not about attacking women's rights.
The men’s rights movement is about providing the same rights protections and choices for
men and women.
It is about equal human rights regardless of gender.
Much like women's rights, men’s rights are something both women and men can support.

18. From becoming Anti-feminist to
being a feminist man
Like most social movements, there is no specific agreed upon set of goals and no formal
organization.
The general movement is an offshoot of the men's liberation movements of the 1970s, and
as such, used tactics learned from the feminist movement to attempt to gain equality in
several areas.
The movement itself split into two groups: one that largely supported feminism, and one that
was strongly anti-feminist.
Both movements, but especially the latter are generally understood to be to some extent a
backlash to feminism

19. Perceptions about men and
feminism
Men have taken part in significant cultural and political responses to feminism in each 'wave'
of the movement
• antifeminist,
• masculinist,
• pro-feminist
Each group takes a different look at masculinity and its approach to feminism

20. Conclusion
Many of the issues discussed by Men's Rights Activists and Feminists are intertwined. When
we begin to listen to each-other’s issues rather than scream, twist, and ignore one another
we can begin to solve problems and make real progress.
Realize that men's rights issues affect every one :men ,women and families(I don’t neglect
the fact of women's issues; it also equally affects every one).
Recognize discrimination and bias against men and boys in society and the media.
Respond to men's right with an open mind.
Creating a gender neutral world would be beneficial to all human beings across societies.

21. THANK YOU!