The ‘men-problem’ in women's studies: The expert, the ignoramus and the poor dear

Abstract

That men in Women's Studies (WS) are a problem because they divide women and usurp power in an environment that was created by and for women is the thesis of this paper which is concerned with women's reactions to men intruding on our ‘onlywomen’ space and time. After describing various styles in which men in WS display themselves — as the ‘expert’, the ‘ignoramus’ and the ‘poor dear’ — I look at women's responses and contend that many women provide the ‘bearded feminist’ type of man with a lot of attention, service and support — to the detriment of their women-to-women interactions. The paper argues strongly for ‘men-free’ women-centered, autonomous WS where women have the opportunity to legitimately pursue our analyses of the multi-facetted manifestations of a patriarchal world and develop theories, methodologies and strategies for action towards ending women's oppression. I suggest that at the center of WS should be the intention to work together with other women towards a future in which men are no longer the measure and in control, but that instead women and men live their lives as responsible creative and self-determining human beings.