The Man Question: Male Subordination and Privilege

Among the many important tools feminist legal theorists have given scholars is that of anti-essentialism: all women are not created equal, and privilege varies greatly by circumstances,particularly that of race and class. Yet at the same time, feminist legal theory tends to view men through an essentialist lens, in which men are created equal. The study of masculinities, inspired by feminist theory to explore the construction of manhood and masculinity, questions the real circumstances of men, not in order to deny men's privilege but to explore in particular how privilege is constructed, and what price is paid for it.

In this groundbreaking work, feminist legal theorist Nancy E. Dowd exhorts readers to apply the anti-essentialist model—so dominant in feminist jurisprudence—to the study of masculinities. She demonstrates how men's treatment by the law and society in general varies by race, economic position, sexuality, and other factors. She applies these insights to both boys and men, examining how masculinities analysis exposes both privilege and subordination. She examines men's experienceof fatherhood and sexual abuse, and boys’ experience in the contexts of education and juvenile justice. Ultimately, Dowd calls for a more inclusive feminist theory, which, by acknowledging the study of masculinities, can broaden our understanding of privilege and subordination.

"In this thought-provoking and illuminating book, Nancy Dowd shows how contemporary research on masculinities, men, and boys–combined with feminist gender analysis–can change the way we think about issues ranging from criminal justice to sexual abuse in families. Clear, well-researched, and unflinching, this is a model of engaged scholarship on important issues."-Raewyn Connell, author of Masculinities" "What a superb book! From school to prison to fatherhood, Nancy Dowd has given us the most wide-ranging and astute assessment of masculinity in and through the law. Theoretically grounded, analytically engaging and elegantly written, Dowd raises the 'man question' and gives the reader the tools to begin to answer that question."-Michael Kimmel, author of Manhood in America" "A powerful book. Nancy Dowd offers a novel and sweeping integration of feminism and masculinities theory. Her ideas about how to recognize gender asymmetries, understand 'male' work codes, and unravel prescribed social roles offer hope for changing workplace and educational cultures toward gender equality."-Nancy Levit, co-author of Feminist Legal Theory: A Primer" "Among the many important tools feminist legal theorists have given scholars is that of anti-essentialism: all women are not created equal, and privilege varies greatly by circumstances, particularly that of race and class. Yet at the same time, feminist legal theory tends to view men through an essentialist lens, in which men are created equal. The study of masculinities, inspired by feminist theory to explore the construction of manhood and masculinity, questions the real circumstances of men, not in order to deny men's privilege but to explore in particular how privilege is constructed, and what price is paid for it." In this groundbreaking work, feminist legal theorist Nancy E. Dowd exhorts readers to apply the anti-essentialist model–so dominant in feminist jurisprudence–to the study of masculinities. She demonstrates how men's treatment by the law and society in general varies by race, economic position, sexuality, and other factors. She applies these insights to both boys and men, looking at men's experience of fatherhood and sexual abuse and boys' experience in the contexts of education and juvenile justice, to examine how masculinities analysis exposes both privilege and subordination. Ultimately, Dowd calls for a more inclusive feminist theory, which, by acknowledging the study of masculinities, can broaden our understanding of privilege and subordination.

Nancy E. Dowd is the director of the Center for Children and Families at the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law and holds the David H. Levin Chair in Family Law. She is the author of several books, including Redefining Fatherhood (NYU Press).