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Men's Studies, Feminism & Feminist Theory, Relationships - Interpersonal, Self-Improvement, Sex Role - United States
Men Doing Feminism by Digby — book cover

Men Doing Feminism

by Digby
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Overview

The relation between feminism and men is often presumed to be antagonistic, so that men are expected to resist feminism, and feminists are assumed to hate men. That pattern of opposition is disrupted, however, by the continually increasing numbers of men who are participating in feminist theory and practice, trying to integrate feminist perspectives into their scholarship, teaching, work, play, friendships, and romantic involvements. Responses to this male feminism have varied. Sometimes male feminists find some female feminists critical of men who oppose or decline to join feminist projects, but also rebuff the few men who do undertake feminist projects. On the other hand, some women feminists have unequivocally welcomed men as allies in political, business, religious, and academic contexts. The essays in Men Doing Feminism reveal that there is justification for both views, the skeptical and the enthusiastic, because feminist men are as diverse as feminist women.

Many of the eighteen contributors to this book—women, men, blacks, whites, gays, straights, transsexuals—use personal narrative to show ways that men's lives can shape their approaches to doing feminism and to convey the opportunities and challenges involved in integrating feminism into a man's life. Some authors argue that men's experiences prepare them to make contributions that are of crucial importance to feminist theory. Others argue that men must radically reform, or even abandon manhood and masculinity if they are to be feminists.

In Men Doing Feminism, feminist theory is used to illuminate men's lives, and men's lives serve as a basis for feministtheory.

Contributors: Michael Awkward, Susan Bordo, Harry Brod, Tom Digby, Judith K. Gardiner, C. Jacob Hale, Sandra Harding, Patrick Hopkins, Joy James, David Kahane, Michael Kimmel, Gary Lemons, Larry May, Brian Pronger, Henry Rubin, Richard Schmitt, James P. Sterba, Laurence Mordekhai Thomas, and Thomas E. Wartenberg.

Synopsis

The relation between feminism and men is often presumed to be antagonistic, so that men are expected to resist feminism, and feminists are assumed to hate men. That pattern of opposition is disrupted, however, by the continually increasing numbers of men who are participating in feminist theory and practice, trying to integrate feminist perspectives into their scholarship, teaching, work, play, friendships, and romantic involvements. Responses to this male feminism have varied. Sometimes male feminists find some female feminists critical of men who oppose or decline to join feminist projects, but also rebuff the few men who do undertake feminist projects. On the other hand, some women feminists have unequivocally welcomed men as allies in political, business, religious, and academic contexts. The essays in Men Doing Feminism reveal that there is justification for both views, the skeptical and the enthusiastic, because feminist men are as diverse as feminist women.

Many of the eighteen contributors to this book—women, men, blacks, whites, gays, straights, transsexuals—use personal narrative to show ways that men's lives can shape their approaches to doing feminism and to convey the opportunities and challenges involved in integrating feminism into a man's life. Some authors argue that men's experiences prepare them to make contributions that are of crucial importance to feminist theory. Others argue that men must radically reform, or even abandon manhood and masculinity if they are to be feminists.

In Men Doing Feminism, feminist theory is used to illuminate men's lives, and men's lives serve as a basis for feministtheory.

Contributors: Michael Awkward, Susan Bordo, Harry Brod, Tom Digby, Judith K. Gardiner, C. Jacob Hale, Sandra Harding, Patrick Hopkins, Joy James, David Kahane, Michael Kimmel, Gary Lemons, Larry May, Brian Pronger, Henry Rubin, Richard Schmitt, James P. Sterba, Laurence Mordekhai Thomas, and Thomas E. Wartenberg.

Booknews

Twenty academic contributors, all but five of whom are male, venture into the sensitive territory of a two-part analysis of feminist theory , and , men's lives. Titles reflect such pivotal issues as: Is feminism good for men and are men good for feminism? Who's afraid of men doing feminism? Can men be subjects of feminist thought? Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

About the Author, Digby

Tom Digby teaches philosophy at Springfield College. His articles on feminist theory and other subjects have been published widely and he serves on the executive board of the Society for the Study of Women Philosophers and has also been active in the Society for Women in Philosophy.

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Editorials

Booknews

Twenty academic contributors, all but five of whom are male, venture into the sensitive territory of a two-part analysis of feminist theory , and , men's lives. Titles reflect such pivotal issues as: Is feminism good for men and are men good for feminism? Who's afraid of men doing feminism? Can men be subjects of feminist thought? Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Book Details

Published
February 1, 1998
Publisher
Taylor & Francis, Inc.
Pages
374
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9780415916264

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