Paul Nathanson
Encyclopedia
Paul Nathanson is a Canadian
religious studies
academic
. He has a BA
in art history (1968); an MLS (library service, 1971); a BTh
(Christianity, 1978); an MA
in religious studies (Judaism and Islam); and a PhD
(1989). He began his academic career by writing Over the Rainbow: The Wizard of Oz as a Secular Myth of America, "about the convergence of sacred and profane
patterns in popular culture."
Together with Katherine K. Young
Nathanson has published a series of works on the subject of misandry
, which the authors assert is a form of prejudice
and discrimination
against men and boys that has become institutionalized in North American society.
case, Iowa's Polk County District Court rejected Nathanson's testimony concerning the purported social effects of recognizing same-sex marriages. Judge Robert Hanson stated that it would be inadmissible at trial, on the basis that his opinions were "not based on observation supported by scientific methodology or... on empirical research in any sense."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
religious studies
Religious studies
Religious studies is the academic field of multi-disciplinary, secular study of religious beliefs, behaviors, and institutions. It describes, compares, interprets, and explains religion, emphasizing systematic, historically based, and cross-cultural perspectives.While theology attempts to...
academic
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
. He has a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in art history (1968); an MLS (library service, 1971); a BTh
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
(Christianity, 1978); an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in religious studies (Judaism and Islam); and a PhD
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
(1989). He began his academic career by writing Over the Rainbow: The Wizard of Oz as a Secular Myth of America, "about the convergence of sacred and profane
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
patterns in popular culture."
Together with Katherine K. Young
Katherine K. Young
Katherine K. Young is a Canadian religious studies academic. She was awarded her M.A. from the University of Chicago and her Ph.D. from McGill University, for research on the history of religions, specializing in Hinduism. After completing her doctorate Young remained at McGill as a faculty member...
Nathanson has published a series of works on the subject of 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...
, which the authors assert is a form of prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
and discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
against men and boys that has become institutionalized in North American society.
Varnum v. Brien testimony
In 2007, during the Varnum v. BrienVarnum v. Brien
Varnum v. Brien, 763 N.W.2d 862 , is an Iowa court case in which six same-sex couples filed suit against Timothy Brien, Polk County Recorder, for refusing to grant marriage licenses to them...
case, Iowa's Polk County District Court rejected Nathanson's testimony concerning the purported social effects of recognizing same-sex marriages. Judge Robert Hanson stated that it would be inadmissible at trial, on the basis that his opinions were "not based on observation supported by scientific methodology or... on empirical research in any sense."
Publications
- Spreading Misandry: The Teaching of Contempt for Men in Popular Culture (2001)
- Legalizing Misandry: From Public Shame to Systemic Discrimination Against Men (2006)
- Sanctifying Misandry: Goddess Ideology and the Fall of Man http://mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=2421 (2010)
- Transcending Misandry: From Feminist Ideology to Intersexual Dialogue http://www.mensreality.com/misandry.html (upcoming)
- Over the Rainbow: The Wizard of Oz as a Secular Myth of America