Men's studies
Encyclopedia
Men's studies, sometimes called masculinity studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning men, masculinity
, gender
, and politics
. As a relatively new field of study, men's studies was formed largely in response to, and as a critique of, an emerging men's rights
movement — itself a response to advantages brought to women by feminist political action — and as such, has been taught in academic settings only since the 1970s. In many universities, men's studies is a correlation to women's studies
or part of a larger gender studies
program, and as such its faculty tends to be sympathetic to or engaged in feminist politics.
In contrast to the discipline of Masculine Psychology
, Men's studies programs and courses often include contemporary discussions of men's rights, masculism
, feminist theory
, queer theory
, matriarchy
, patriarchy
, and more generally, the social, historical, and cultural constructions of men
and virility
. They often discuss the issues surrounding male privilege
, seen as evolving into more subtle forms rather than disappearing in the modern era.
The American Men's Studies Association
(AMSA) traces the roots of an organized field of men's studies to the early 1980s and the work of scholars involved in an anti-sexist
organization called the Men's Studies Task Group (MSTG) of the National Organization for Changing Men (NOCM) which included Martin Acker, Shepherd Bliss, Harry Brod, Sam Femiano, Martin Fiebert, and Michael Messner
. However, men's studies classes also pre-date NOCM, and a small number were taught in various colleges across the United States throughout the 1970s.
When NOCM changed its name to The National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS), the MSTG became the Men's Studies Association (MSA). The MSA was an explicitly pro-feminist group, and those who felt this was too constraining split away several years later to form the American Men's Studies Association (AMSA).
In 2010, the Foundation for Male Studies was formed in New York, focusing on understanding and solving the problems of men and boys. Feminism and pro-feminist theory is peripheral to their focus area. Most of the research sponsored by the foundation has focused on areas where men and boys face discrimination in medicine, law, and the protection afforded by government programs. The foundation also investigates social and institutional misandry
.
Authors
Academic Journals
Books
Masculinity
Masculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man. The term can be used to describe any human, animal or object that has the quality of being masculine...
, gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
, and politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
. As a relatively new field of study, men's studies was formed largely in response to, and as a critique of, an emerging men's rights
Men's rights
Men's rights is an umbrella term, encompassing the political rights, entitlements, and freedoms given or denied to males within a nation or culture....
movement — itself a response to advantages brought to women by feminist political action — and as such, has been taught in academic settings only since the 1970s. In many universities, men's studies is a correlation to women's studies
Women's studies
Women's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
or part of a larger gender studies
Gender studies
Gender studies is a field of interdisciplinary study which analyses race, ethnicity, sexuality and location.Gender study has many different forms. One view exposed by the philosopher Simone de Beauvoir said: "One is not born a woman, one becomes one"...
program, and as such its faculty tends to be sympathetic to or engaged in feminist politics.
In contrast to the discipline of Masculine Psychology
Masculine psychology
Masculine psychology is a term sometimes used to describe and categorize issues concerning the gender-related psychology of male human identity, as well as the issues that men confront during their lives...
, Men's studies programs and courses often include contemporary discussions of men's rights, masculism
Masculism
Masculism may refer to political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing and defending political, economic, and social rights and participation in society for men and boys. These rights include legal issues, such as those of conscription, child custody, alimony, and equal pay for...
, feminist theory
Feminist theory
Feminist theory is the extension of feminism into theoretical, or philosophical discourse, it aims to understand the nature of gender inequality...
, queer theory
Queer theory
Queer theory is a field of critical theory that emerged in the early 1990s out of the fields of LGBT studies and feminist studies. Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorisation of 'queerness' itself...
, matriarchy
Matriarchy
A matriarchy is a society in which females, especially mothers, have the central roles of political leadership and moral authority. It is also sometimes called a gynocratic or gynocentric society....
, patriarchy
Patriarchy
Patriarchy is a social system in which the role of the male as the primary authority figure is central to social organization, and where fathers hold authority over women, children, and property. It implies the institutions of male rule and privilege, and entails female subordination...
, and more generally, the social, historical, and cultural constructions of men
Man
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
and virility
Virility
Virility refers to any of a wide range of masculine characteristics viewed positively. It is not applicable to women or to negative characteristics. The Oxford English Dictionary says virile is "marked by strength or force." Virility is commonly associated with vigour, health, sturdiness, and...
. They often discuss the issues surrounding male privilege
Male privilege
Male 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....
, seen as evolving into more subtle forms rather than disappearing in the modern era.
The American Men's Studies Association
American Men's Studies Association
The American Men's Studies Association advances the critical study of men and masculinities by encouraging the development of teaching, research and clinical practice in the field of men's studies...
(AMSA) traces the roots of an organized field of men's studies to the early 1980s and the work of scholars involved in an anti-sexist
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
organization called the Men's Studies Task Group (MSTG) of the National Organization for Changing Men (NOCM) which included Martin Acker, Shepherd Bliss, Harry Brod, Sam Femiano, Martin Fiebert, and Michael Messner
Michael Messner
Michael Alan Messner is an American sociologist. His main areas of research are gender and the sociology of sports...
. However, men's studies classes also pre-date NOCM, and a small number were taught in various colleges across the United States throughout the 1970s.
When NOCM changed its name to The National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS), the MSTG became the Men's Studies Association (MSA). The MSA was an explicitly pro-feminist group, and those who felt this was too constraining split away several years later to form the American Men's Studies Association (AMSA).
In 2010, the Foundation for Male Studies was formed in New York, focusing on understanding and solving the problems of men and boys. Feminism and pro-feminist theory is peripheral to their focus area. Most of the research sponsored by the foundation has focused on areas where men and boys face discrimination in medicine, law, and the protection afforded by government programs. The foundation also investigates social and institutional misandry
Misandry
Misandry is the hatred or dislike of men or boys.Misandry comes from Greek misos and anēr, andros . Misandry is the antonym of philandry, the fondness towards men, love, or admiration of them...
.
See also
- Gender studiesGender studiesGender studies is a field of interdisciplinary study which analyses race, ethnicity, sexuality and location.Gender study has many different forms. One view exposed by the philosopher Simone de Beauvoir said: "One is not born a woman, one becomes one"...
- MasculismMasculismMasculism may refer to political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing and defending political, economic, and social rights and participation in society for men and boys. These rights include legal issues, such as those of conscription, child custody, alimony, and equal pay for...
- Men and feminismMen and feminismThe relationship between men and feminism has been complex and intricate. Men have taken part in significant cultural and political responses to feminism in each 'wave' of the movement. Such responses have been varied, with some more sympathetic or critical than others, depending on the individual...
- Men's liberationMen's liberationThe consciousness and philosophy of men's liberation is split into two factions. One is critical of the restraints which a patriarchal society imposes on men. This faction is informed by feminism. The other, critical of the restraints matriarchal society imposes on men, is informed by masculinism...
- Men's movementMen's movementThe men's movement is a social movement that includes a number of philosophies and organizations that seek to support men, change the male gender role and improve men's rights in regard to marriage, child access and victims of domestic violence...
- Men's rightsMen's rightsMen's rights is an umbrella term, encompassing the political rights, entitlements, and freedoms given or denied to males within a nation or culture....
- Men's spacesMen's spacesMen's spaces are separate social and cultural spaces, roles and norms available to men in some non-westernized societies. It is the membership of these spaces that determines a male's manhood, while failing to get a membership of this space amounts to being denied manhood, and to be liable to...
- MisandryMisandryMisandry is the hatred or dislike of men or boys.Misandry comes from Greek misos and anēr, andros . Misandry is the antonym of philandry, the fondness towards men, love, or admiration of them...
- Non-westernized concepts of male sexuality
- Women's studiesWomen's studiesWomen's studies, also known as feminist studies, is an interdisciplinary academic field which explores politics, society and history from an intersectional, multicultural women's perspective...
- Lad cultureLad cultureLad culture is a subculture commonly associated with Britpop music of the 1990s."The image of the 'lad' or 'new lad' arose in the early 1990s as a generally middle-class figure espousing attitudes conventionally attributed to the working classes"...
Authors
- Harry Brod
- R. W. Connell
- Warren FarrellWarren FarrellWarren Farrell is an American author of seven books on men's and women's issues. His books cover twelve fields: history, law, sociology and politics ; couples’ communication ; economic and career issues ; child psychology and child custody ; and...
- Michael FloodMichael FloodMichael G Flood is an Australian sociologist at the University of Wollongong. Flood gained his doctorate in gender and sexuality studies from the Australian National University...
- Joseph GelferJoseph GelferJoseph Gelfer is a British author and academic now living in Australia. He is currently an Adjunct Research Associate at the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University. His main area of research is religion and masculinities...
- Michael KaufmanMichael KaufmanMichael Kaufman may refer to:* The promoter of the White ribbon campaign* Andy Kaufman's brother* Michael T. Kaufman, writer for the New York Times...
- Michael Kimmel
- Michael MessnerMichael MessnerMichael Alan Messner is an American sociologist. His main areas of research are gender and the sociology of sports...
- Victor Seidler
- Christina Hoff SommersChristina Hoff SommersChristina Hoff Sommers is an American author and former philosophy professor who is known for her critique of late 20th century feminism, and her writings about feminism in contemporary American culture...
- Norah VincentNorah VincentNorah Vincent is an American writer.Vincent was a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies from its 2001 inception to 2003...
- Máirtín Mac an GhaillMáirtín Mac an GhaillMáirtín Mac an Ghaill is Professor in Sociology at the University of Birmingham. He is the author of The Making of Men: Masculinities, Sexuality and Schooling and Contemporary Racisms and ethnicities ....
Further reading
Bibliographies- Flood, Michael. The Men's Bibliography
Academic Journals
- General
- The Journal of Men's StudiesThe Journal of Men's StudiesThe Journal of Men's Studies is a peer-reviewed journal established in 1992 as the first of four published by Men's Studies Press.* Gender studies* Men's studies* Women's studies...
(1992-) - Men and Masculinities (formerly Masculinities, and before that Men’s Studies Review) (Sage)
- Psychology of Men & Masculinity (2000-)
- The Journal of Men's Studies
- On particular areas
- Fathering: A Journal of Theory and Research about Men as Parents
- International Journal of Men's HealthInternational Journal of Men's HealthInternational Journal of Men's Health is a peer reviewed journal established in 2002 as the second of four published by Men's Studies Press and the first worldwide to focus specifically on men's health....
(2002-) - Journal of Men, Masculinities and SpiritualityJournal of Men, Masculinities and SpiritualityJournal of Men, Masculinities and Spirituality is a free, online, scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, open access journal. JMMS is published twice a year with provision for other special editions. JMMS was founded by Joseph Gelfer who remains the executive editor.JMMS seeks to be as...
(January 2007-) - Journal of African American Males in Education (2010-)
- Journal of Men’s Health and Gender
- Thymos: Journal of Boyhood StudiesThymos: Journal of Boyhood StudiesThymos: Journal of Boyhood Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal established in 2007 as the fourth of four published by Men's Studies Press and the first worldwide to focus specifically on boys and boyhood.- External links :* information site....
(2007-) - Culture, Society and MasculinitiesCulture, Society and MasculinitiesCulture, Society and Masculinities is a peer-reviewed journal first published in early 2009 as the fifth published by Men's Studies Press....
(2009-) - Journal of Black Masculinity
Books
- Adams, Rachel, and David Savran. (eds). (2002). The Masculinity Studies Reader. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishers.
- Berger, Maurice, Brian Wallis, and Simon Watson. (eds). (1995). Constructing Masculinity. New York and London: Routledge.
- Blazina, Chris. (2003). The Cultural Myth of Masculinity. Westport, CT: Praeger
- Blazina, C. (2008). The Secret Lives of Men: What Men Want You to Know About Love, Sex, and Relationships. Deerfield, FL: HCI.
- Blazina, C., & Miller, D. (Eds.). (2010). An International Psychology of Men: Clinical Implications and Case Studies. New York: Routledge.
- Bordo, Susan. (1999). The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and Private. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
- Brod, Harry, and Michael Kaufman. (eds). (1994). Theorizing Masculinities. London: Sage.
- Buchbinder, David. (1994). Masculinities and Identities. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
- Buchbinder, David. (1998). Performance Anxieties: Re-producing Masculinity. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
- Carver, Terrell (2004) Men in Political Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
- Clatterbaugh, KennethKenneth ClatterbaughKenneth Clatterbaugh is an American philosopher. He is Chair of the department of Philosophy at the University of Washington. His interests are modern philosophy, social philosophy, and gender studies.He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1967....
. (1997). Contemporary Perspectives on Masculinity: Men, Women, and Politics in Modern Society. 2nd edition, Colorado & Oxford: Westview Press. - Connell, R.W.Raewyn ConnellRaewyn Connell is an Australian sociologist. She is currently University Professor at the University of Sydney.-Profile:...
(1987). Gender and Power: Society, the Person and Sexual Politics. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. - Connell, R.W. (1995). Masculinities. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
- Connell, R.W. (2000). The Men and the Boys. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
- Digby, Tom. (ed.). (1998). Men Doing Feminism. New York & London: Routledge.
- Edley, Nigel, and Margaret Wetherell. (1995). Men in Perspective: Practice, Power and Identity. London: Prentice-Hall.
- Edwards, Tim. (1993). Erotics and Politics: Gay Male Sexuality, Masculinity, and Feminism. New York: Routledge.
- Gardiner, Judith Kegan. (ed.). (2002). Masculinity Studies and Feminist Theory: New Directions. Columbia University Press.
- Haddad, Tony. (ed.). (1993). Men and Masculinities: A Critical Anthology. Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press.
- Hearn, JeffJeff HearnJeff Richard Hearn is a British sociologist.-Biography:Hearn did his MA - specialised and Thesis in Organisational Sociology - at the Department of Management Studies of the University of Leeds....
, and David H.J. Morgan (eds). (1990). Men, Masculinities and Social Theory. London: Unwin Hyman. - Haywood, Chris, and Mairtin Mac an Ghaill (2003) Men and Masculinities: Theory, Research and Social Practice. Open University Press.
- Katz, Jackson (2006) The Macho Paradox: Why some men hurt women and how all men can help. Sourcebooks.
- Kimmel, Michael S., Jeff Hearn and R. W. Connell (eds.) (2005) Handbook of Studies on Men and Masculinities. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
- Kimmel, Michael S. (ed.). (1995). The Politics of Manhood: Profeminist Men Respond to the Mythopoetic Men’s Movement (and the Mythopoetic Leaders Answer). Philadelphia: Temple University Press.
- Kimmel, Michael S. (2000). The Gendered Society. New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Kimmel, Michael, and Amy Aronson (eds) (2003) Men and Masculinities: A social, cultural, and historical encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio Press.
- Kimmel, Michael S., and Michael Messner. (eds). (1998). Men’s Lives. New York/Toronto: Macmillan/Maxwell (4th edition).
- Kupers, Terry A. (1993). Revisioning Men’s Lives: Gender, Intimacy, and Power. New York & London: Guilford Press.
- Mac an Ghaill, MairtinMáirtín Mac an GhaillMáirtín Mac an Ghaill is Professor in Sociology at the University of Birmingham. He is the author of The Making of Men: Masculinities, Sexuality and Schooling and Contemporary Racisms and ethnicities ....
(ed.). (1996). Understanding Masculinities: Social Relations and Cultural Arenas. Buckingham & Philadelphia: Open University Press. - May, Larry. (1998). Masculinity and Morality. Ithaca & London: Cornell University Press.
- May, Larry, and Robert Strikwerda. (eds). (1992). Rethinking Masculinity: Philosophical Explorations in Light of Feminism. Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield.
- Messner, Michael A. (1997). Politics of Masculinities: Men in Movements. University of Southern California: Sage.
- Miedzian, Myriam. (1991). Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link Between Masculinity and Violence. New York: Doubleday.
- Pease, Bob. (1997). Men and Sexual Politics: Towards a Profeminist Practice. Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publications.
- Pease, Bob. (2000). Recreating Men: Postmodern Masculinity Politics. London: Sage.
- Pease, Bob. (2002). Men and Gender Relations. Melbourne: Tertiary Press.
- Petersen, Alan. (1998). Unmasking the Masculine: ‘Men’ and ‘Identity’ in a Sceptical Age. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
- Pfeil, Fred. (1995). White Guys: Studies in Postmodern Domination and Difference. London & New York: Verso.
- Pringle, Keith. (1995). Men, Masculinities and Social Welfare. London: UCL Press.
- Reeser, Todd (2010). Masculinities in Theory. Malden, MA: Wylie-Blackwell.
- Schacht, Steven P., and Doris W. Ewing (2004) Feminism With Men: Bridging the gender gap. Roman and Littlefield.
- Segal, Lynne. (1990). Slow Motion: Changing Masculinities, Changing Men. London: Virago.
- Seidler, Victor J. (2005) Transforming Masculinities : Men, Cultures, Bodies, Power, Sex and Love. Routledge.
- Simpson, Mark. (1994). Male Impersonators: Men Performing Masculinity. New York: Routledge.
- Snodgrass, Jon. (ed.). (1977). A Book of Readings: For Men Against Sexism. Albion CA: Times Change Press.
- Stoltenberg, John.John StoltenbergJohn 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 , a position he has held since 2004.Stoltenberg was life partner to Andrea Dworkin...
(1990). Refusing To Be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice. CA & Suffolk: Fontana/Collins. - Stoltenberg, John. (1993). The End of Manhood: A Book for Men of Conscience. New York: Dutton. (Also available from Baker & Taylor Replica Books, 1998)
- Synnott, Anthony. (2009). Re-Thinking Men: Heroes Villains and Victims. London: Ashgate.
- Whitehead, Stephen M. (2002). Men and Masculinities: Key Themes and New Directions. Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Whitehead, Stephen M., and Frank J. Barrett. (eds). (2001). The Masculinities Reader. Cambridge: Polity Press
External links
- American Men Studies Association
- Men's Studies Press
- Boyhood Studies
- The Men's Bibliography, a comprehensive bibliography of writing on men, masculinities, gender, and sexualities, listing over 16,700 works.
- Journal of Men, Masculinities and Spirituality
- The ManKind Project of Chicago, supporting men in leading meaningful lives of integrity, accountability, responsibility, and emotional intelligence