John Stoltenberg
Encyclopedia
John Stoltenberg is an American
radical feminist
activist, scholar, author, and magazine editor. He is the managing editor
of AARP The Magazine
, a bimonthly publication
of the United States
-based advocacy group
AARP
(formerly American Association of Retired Persons), a position he has held since 2004.
Stoltenberg was life partner
to Andrea Dworkin
for thirty-one years (eventually marrying), although he considers himself gay
.
from Union Theological Seminary
. He is well known as a feminist activist and author. He has written a series of books and articles criticizing traditional concepts of manhood or maleness, such as Refusing to Be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice, "Why I Stopped Trying to be a Real Man," and The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience.
Stoltenberg created "The Pose
Workshop," which entailed men adopting the poses that women strike in pornographic shots (intended partly for men attending Christian
retreats), a version of which was broadcast on BBC
television.
He was Andrea Dworkin
's life partner
for thirty-one years. They began living together in 1974; in 1998 they married (see Andrea Dworkin's relationship with John Stoltenberg).
Stoltenberg is a founder of the group 'Men Can Stop Rape' and developed the group's 'My Strength' campaign which aims to educate young men on sexual relationships, consent
and rape
. He also creative-directs
the group's 'My Duty' sexual-assault
-prevention media campaign, which is licensed to the United States Department of Defense
's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.
Stoltenberg is credited with the quote: "Pornography
tells lies about women. But pornography tells the truth about men."
Stoltenberg has described how, as a feminist male, he has had to reevaluate and even discontinue relationships with some of his male friends.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radical feminist
Radical feminism
Radical feminism is a current theoretical perspective within feminism that focuses on the theory of patriarchy as a system of power that organizes society into a complex of relationships based on an assumption that "male supremacy" oppresses women...
activist, scholar, author, and magazine editor. He is the managing editor
Managing editor
A managing editor is a senior member of a publication's management team.In the United States, a managing editor oversees and coordinates the publication's editorial activities...
of AARP The Magazine
AARP The Magazine
AARP The Magazine is a bi-monthly magazine published by AARP, which focuses on aging issues. Established in 1958, it was known until 2002 as Modern Maturity. The editor is Nancy Perry Graham ; the managing editor is John Stoltenberg...
, a bimonthly publication
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based advocacy group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
AARP
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is the United States-based non-governmental organization and interest group, founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus, PhD, a retired educator from California, and based in Washington, D.C. According to its mission statement, it is "a...
(formerly American Association of Retired Persons), a position he has held since 2004.
Stoltenberg was life partner
Life partner
A life partner is a romantic or otherwise very close friend for life. The partners can be of the same or opposite sexes, married or unmarried, and monogamous or polyamorous....
to Andrea Dworkin
Andrea Dworkin
Andrea Rita Dworkin was an American radical feminist and writer best known for her criticism of pornography, which she argued was linked to rape and other forms of violence against women....
for thirty-one years (eventually marrying), although he considers himself gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
.
Career
Stoltenberg holds a degree in fine arts and a Master of DivinityMaster of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
from Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
. He is well known as a feminist activist and author. He has written a series of books and articles criticizing traditional concepts of manhood or maleness, such as Refusing to Be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice, "Why I Stopped Trying to be a Real Man," and The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience.
Stoltenberg created "The Pose
Pose
"Pose" is the first single by Puerto Rico reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee from the movie soundtrack to the motion picture Talento de Barrio, and was released on May 14, 2008, by Machete Music and El Cartel Records. The single was made available through online music stores on August 12, 2008...
Workshop," which entailed men adopting the poses that women strike in pornographic shots (intended partly for men attending Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
retreats), a version of which was broadcast on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television.
He was Andrea Dworkin
Andrea Dworkin
Andrea Rita Dworkin was an American radical feminist and writer best known for her criticism of pornography, which she argued was linked to rape and other forms of violence against women....
's life partner
Life partner
A life partner is a romantic or otherwise very close friend for life. The partners can be of the same or opposite sexes, married or unmarried, and monogamous or polyamorous....
for thirty-one years. They began living together in 1974; in 1998 they married (see Andrea Dworkin's relationship with John Stoltenberg).
Stoltenberg is a founder of the group 'Men Can Stop Rape' and developed the group's 'My Strength' campaign which aims to educate young men on sexual relationships, consent
Consent
Consent refers to the provision of approval or agreement, particularly and especially after thoughtful consideration.- Types of consent :*Implied consent is a controversial form of consent which is not expressly granted by a person, but rather inferred from a person's actions and the facts and...
and rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. He also creative-directs
Creative Director
A creative director is a position often found within the graphic design, film, music, fashion, advertising, media or entertainment industries, but may be useful in other creative organizations such as web development and software development firms as well....
the group's 'My Duty' sexual-assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
-prevention media campaign, which is licensed to the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.
Stoltenberg is credited with the quote: "Pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
tells lies about women. But pornography tells the truth about men."
Stoltenberg has described how, as a feminist male, he has had to reevaluate and even discontinue relationships with some of his male friends.
Books
- Disarmament and Masculinity: An Outline Guide and Bibliography For Studying the Connection Between Sexual Violence and War. Published by Frog in the Well (Palo Alto, CA) in 1978.
- Refusing To Be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice. First published by Breitenbush Books (Portland, OR) in 1989 (ISBN 0-93257-673-7), it was revised and republished by UCL Press in 2000 (ISBN 1-84142-041-7), in some cases with the altered subtitle Essays on Social Justice (ISBN 1-84142-062-X).
- The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience. First published by Dutton PenguinDutton PenguinDutton Penguin is an American book publisher, established in 1986 when its precursor E.P. Dutton was split by its owner the Penguin Group into Dutton Penguin and Dutton Children's Books.-Overview:...
in 1993 (ISBN 0-525-93630-0), a revised edition was published by UCL Press in 1999 with the altered subtitle Parables on Sex and Selfhood, in paperback (ISBN 1-85728-325-2) and hardcover (ISBN 1-85728-324-4). - What Makes Pornography "Sexy"?. Published by Milkweed EditionsMilkweed EditionsMilkweed Editions is an independent, non-profit publishing company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Milkweed's goal is to make a positive impact on society through the transformative art of literature. Milkweed is sometimes called the largest independent, non-profit literary publisher in the United...
in 1994 (ISBN 1-57131-201-3)
Reviews
- Sex, Porn and Conscience - A review of John Stoltenberg's Refusing To Be a Man by Michael Flood More (10 January 2009)
Articles
- Why I Stopped Trying to be a Real Man, originally written at the invitation of ConsolidatedConsolidated (band)Consolidated was an American radical activist recording and performing group, formed in 1988 and best known in the early 1990s as an alternative dance/industrial music band. They were distinguished by left-leaning political activism and politically radical lyrics, as well as their innovative sonic...
for a fanzineFanzineA fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
released in connection with their album Business of PunishmentBusiness of PunishmentBusiness of Punishment is the fourth full-length album by industrial/hip hop artists Consolidated which was released in 1994.-Track listing:# "Cutting" – 5:09# "Business of Punishment" – 5:50# "Born of a Woman" – 4:01...
(1994).
- Male Virgins, Blood Covenants & Family Values, article on the Promise KeepersPromise KeepersPromise Keepers is an international conservative Christian organization for men. While it originated in the United States, it is now world-wide...
in On The IssuesOn the IssuesOn The Issues or OnTheIssues is a non-partisan, non-profit organization providing information to voters about candidates, primarily via their web site. This organization was started in 1996, went non-profit in 2000, and is currently run primarily by volunteers.The president and CEO of On the...
: The Progressive Woman's Quarterly (Spring 1995, Stoltenberg is described as the executive editor).
- "Of Microbes and Manhood — Sexual risk-taking among young men in the U.S. increases the likelihood of their contracting and spreading a sexually transmitted infection. Everything is gendered when it comes to education, prevention, and treatment," published in Ms. 10, no. 5, (2000): 60
Contributions to anthologies
- "Refusing To Be A Man," "Toward Gender Justice," and "Eroticism and Violence in the Father-Son Relationship" in For Men Against Sexism: A Book of Readings edited by John Snodgrass. Published by Times Change Press (Albion, CA) and distributed by Monthly Review Press in 1977 (ISBN 0-87810-531-X).
- "Sadomasochism: Eroticized Violence, Eroticized Powerlessness" in Against Sadomasochism: A Radical Feminist Analysis edited by Robin Ruth Linden, et al. Published by Frog in the Well (East Palo Alto, CA) in 1982 (ISBN 0-96036-283-5).
- "Other Men" in New Men, New Minds: Breaking Male Tradition: How Today's Men Are Changing the Traditional Roles of Masculinity edited by Franklin Abbott. Published by Crossing Press (Freedom, CA) in 1987 (ISBN 0-89594-219-4).
- "Pornography and Freedom" and "Gays and the Propornography Movement: Having the Hots For Sex Discrimination" in Men Confront Pornography edited by Michael S. Kimmel. Published by Crown Publishers in 1990 (ISBN 0-51756-931-0).
- "You Can't Fight Homophobia and Protect the Pornographers at the Same Time: An Analysis of What Went Wrong in Hardwick" in The Sexual Liberals and The Attack On Feminism edited by Dorchen LeidholdtDorchen LeidholdtDorchen A. Leidholdt is an activist and leader in the feminist movement against violence against women. Since the mid-1970s, she has counseled and advocated for rape victims, organized against "the media’s promotion of violence against women", served on the legal team for the plaintiff in a...
and Janice G. Raymond. Published by Pergamon PressPergamon PressPergamon Press was an Oxford-based publishing house, founded by Paul Rosbaud and Robert Maxwell, which published scientific and medical books and journals. It is now an imprint of Elsevier....
(New York City) in 1990 (ISBN 0-08037-457-3). - "Pornography, Homophobia and Male Supremacy" in Pornography: Women, Violence, and Civil Liberties edited by Catherine ItzinCatherine ItzinCatherine Lenore Itzin was an Honorary Research Fellow in the Violence, Abuse and Gender Relations Research Unit, Department of Applied Social Studies at the University of Bradford...
. Published by Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in 1992 (ISBN 0-19825-291-9). - "Making Rape an Election Issue" in Transforming a Rape Culture edited by Emilie Buchwald, Pamela R. Fletcher, and Martha Roth. Published by Milkweed EditionsMilkweed EditionsMilkweed Editions is an independent, non-profit publishing company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Milkweed's goal is to make a positive impact on society through the transformative art of literature. Milkweed is sometimes called the largest independent, non-profit literary publisher in the United...
in 1993 (ISBN 0-91594-306-9). - "Pornography and Freedom" in Making Violence Sexy: Feminist Views on Pornography edited by Diana E. H. RussellDiana E. H. RussellDiana E. H. Russell is a radical feminist writer and activist. Born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, she moved to England in 1957, and then to the United States of America in 1961. For the past 25 years she has been engaged in research on sexual violence against women and girls...
. Published by Teachers College Press (New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) in 1993 (ISBN 0-80776-269-5). - "The Triangular Politics of Pornography" in The Price We Pay: The Case Against Racist Speech, Hate Propaganda, and Pornography edited by Laura LedererLaura LedererLaura J. Lederer is a legal scholar and former Senior Advisor on Trafficking in Persons in the Office for Democracy and Global Affairs of the United States Department of State. She has also been an activist against human trafficking, prostitution, pornography, and hate speech...
and Richard DelgadoRichard DelgadoRichard Delgado is a professor at the Seattle University School of Law. He is teaches civil rights law. He is a proponent of critical race theory, and a critic of law and literature movement...
. Published by Hill & Wang (New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) in 1995 (ISBN 0-80907-883-X). - "Pornography and Sexual Violence: Justice and Accountability to Victims" in Called to Make Justice: Collected Keynote Speeches From the First Bi-National Meeting of Advocates, Workers and Leaders from Religious Communities Who Work to Prevent Sexual and Domestic Violence. Published by Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence (Seattle, WA) in 1995.
- "'I Am Not A Rapist!': Why College Guys Are Confronting Sexual Violence" and "Healing From Manhood: A Radical Meditation on the Movement From Gender Identity to Moral Identity" in Feminism and Men: Reconstructing Gender Relations edited by Steven P. Schacht and Doris W. Ewing. Published by New York University Press in 1998 (ISBN 0-81478-077-6).
- "Learning the F Words" in Looking Queer: Body Image and Identity in Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, and Transgender Communities edited by Dawn AtkinsDawn Atkins (anthropologist)Dawn Atkins is an American author of nonfiction and fiction, as well as an activist and educator.She has had in influence in a number of diverse areas including journalism, anthropology, body image, science fiction and fantasy, feminism, lgbt activism, gender and sexuality studies, and...
. Published by Haworth PressHaworth PressHaworth Press was a publisher of scholarly, academic and trade books, and approximately 200 peer-reviewed academic journals. It was founded in 1978 by the publishing industry executives Bill Cohen and Patrick Mclaughlin. The name was taken from the township of Haworth in England, the home of the...
(New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) in 1998 (ISBN 1-56023-931-X). - "How Power Makes Men: The Grammar of Gender Identity" in Men and Power edited by Joseph A. Kuypers. Published by Prometheus BooksPrometheus BooksPrometheus Books is a publishing company founded in August 1969 by Paul Kurtz, who also founded the Council for Secular Humanism and co-founded the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. He is currently the chairman of all three organizations. Prometheus Books publishes a range of books, including many...
(Amherst, NY) in 1999 (ISBN 1-57392-769-4). - "Introduction" to Working With Men For Change edited by Jim Wild. Published by UCL Press LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; Philadelphia) in 1999 (ISBN 1-85728-860-2). - "Christianity, Feminism, and the Manhood Crisis" in Standing On the Promises: The Promise Keepers and the Revival of Manhood edited by Dane S. Claussen. Published by Pilgrim Press (Cleveland, OhioCleveland, OhioCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
) in 1999 (ISBN 0-82981-307-1). - "Top Ten Ways the Campus Movement Against Sexual Violence is Misunderstood" in Just Sex: Students Rewrite the Rules on Sex, Violence, Activism, and Equality edited by Jodi Gold and Susan Villari. Published by Rowman & LittlefieldRowman & LittlefieldRowman & Littlefield Publishing Group is an independent publishing house founded in 1949. Under several imprints, the company offers scholarly books and journals for the academic market, as well as trade books. The company also owns a book distributor, National Book Network...
(Lanham, MD) in 2000 (ISBN 0-84769-333-3) - "Having Sex Outside the Box" in Male Lust: Pleasure, Power, and Transformation edited by Kerwin Kay, Jill Nagle, and Baruch Gould. Published by Harrington Park Press (New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) in 2000 (ISBN 1-56023-981-6). - "Feminists Should Oppose Pornography" position in Pornography: Opposing Viewpoints edited by Helen Cothran. Published by Greenhaven PressGreenhaven PressGreenhaven Press has been an imprint of Gale since 2000. Greenhaven primarily publishes books on social issues for middle school and high school students, and is best known for its Opposing Viewpoints series...
(San Diego, CA) in 2002 as part of the Opposing Viewpoints seriesOpposing Viewpoints seriesThe Opposing Viewpoints series is a series of books on current issues which seeks to explore the varying opinions in a balanced pros/cons debate...
(ISBN 0-73770-761-5). - "How Men Have (a) Sex", part of "Privilege Axis Two: Male PrivilegeMale privilegeMale privilege is a sociological term that refers quite generally to the special rights or status granted to men in a society, on the basis of their sex or gender, but usually denied to women and/or transsexuals....
", in Oppression, Privilege, and Resistance: Theoretical Perspectives on Racism, Sexism, and Heterosexism edited by Lisa M. Heldke and Peg O'Connor. Published by McGraw-HillMcGraw-HillThe McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
(BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
) in 2004 (ISBN 0-07288-243-3). - "Towards Gender Justice" in Feminism and Masculinities edited by Peter Francis Murphy. Published by Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in 2004 (ISBN 0-19926-724-3). - "Confronting Pornography as a Civil-Rights Issue" in Theorizing Feminisms: A Reader edited by Elizabeth Hackett and Sally Anne Haslanger. Published by Oxford University PressOxford University PressOxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
in 2006 (ISBN 0-19515-009-0). - "Foreword" to Gendered Outcasts and Sexual Outlaws: Sexual Oppression and Gender Hierarchies in Queer Men's Lives edited by Christopher N. Kendall and Wayne Martino. Published by Harrington Park Press (New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) in 2006 (ISBN 1-56023-500-4). - "The Politics of Refusal" in The New Politics of Masculinity: Men, Power and Resistance edited by Fidelma Ashe. Published by RoutledgeRoutledgeRoutledge is a British publishing house which has operated under a succession of company names and latterly as an academic imprint. Its origins may be traced back to the 19th-century London bookseller George Routledge...
(LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
; New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) in 2007 (ISBN 0-41530-275-7 and ISBN 0-20350-836-X).
External links
- Living with Andrea Dworkin, Stoltenberg's account originally published in Lambda Book Report (May/June 1994)
- Imagining Life Without Andrea, transcript of Stoltenberg's extemporaneous speech to the Take Back the NightTake Back the NightTake Back the Night is an internationally held march and rally intended as a protest and direct action against rape and other forms of sexual violence...
Rally Honoring Andrea Dworkin (30 April 2005).