Abstract
One of the most important questions for feminist research on men and masculinity concerns how men can change and become more affected by feminism and less engaged in sexism. Here, men who identify as feminist, pro-feminist or anti-sexist have been considered to be of particular interest. This article contributes to the emerging research on men’s engagement with feminism by analysing contemporary writing about gender relations, inequality and masculinity, more specifically books about men published in Sweden, 2004-2015. Focusing on lived-experience descriptions, the analysis shows how a range of emotions are central to the processes where men encounter and are becoming affected by feminism. The emotions identified include happy ones such as relief, but a more prominent place is given to negative emotions such as alienation, shame, frustration, as well as loss and mourning. Drawing on Ahmed’s model of emotions as bound up with encounters with others, the article highlights how of men’s engagement with feminism is embedded within interpersonal relations with others, particularly women partners, men friends, and children.
Highlights
One of the most important questions for research on men and masculinity concerns how men can change (Segal 2007), i.e. how they can become more affected by feminism and less engaged in sexist practices
I have analysed books about men published in Sweden in the period 2004-2015
While these books are generally about teaching men about gender, power and masculinity, the analysis has focused on descriptions of lived experience, the role of emotions and relations to others
Summary
One of the most important questions for research on men and masculinity concerns how men can change (Segal 2007), i.e. how they can become more affected by feminism and less engaged in sexist practices. Men’s engagement with feminism has become increasingly widespread and diversified, and men ranging from prominent politicians to hip hop artists have publicly declared themselves as feminists In this context, feminism is usually defined as a position of wanting to change unequal gender relations rather than as a ‘movement of women for women’ (cf Gemzöe 2014). Feminism is usually defined as a position of wanting to change unequal gender relations rather than as a ‘movement of women for women’ (cf Gemzöe 2014) Following this usage, I will use the notion of ‘feminist men’ as a shorthand for men engaged with questions about gender inequality from a broadly feminist perspective. I find the notion of desiring-machines helpful in foregrounding conflicting aspects of subjectivity
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