#MeToo or #MenToo? Expressions of Backlash and Masculinity Politics in the #MeToo Era

Since #MeToo took the Internet by storm in 2017, it has had transnational social and legal ramifications. However, there has been little research on the repercussions of this movement for the ways in which masculinity has been politicized as questions around its meaning and place in gender relations were brought to the forefront of public discussions. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from two Western Anglophone men’s groups, one embracing and one opposing feminist ideas. Our findings demonstrate a qualitative shift in contemporary expressions of “backlash” and “masculinity politics” in the #MeToo era compared to their initial formulations in the wake of the women’s and men’s movements of the 1960s to 1980s, shaped by novel tropes and tactics.

THERE ARE MALE TEARS IN THAT COMMENT SECTION. THE DISCURSIVE NEGOTIATION OF MASCULINITY IN ITALIAN ONLINE MEN'S GROUPS

Despite the consolidation of works on the heterogeneous nature of the so-called Manosphere, a lot of these studies consider masculinity as an overall governing force of men’s behaviors. This is has led to overlooking how subject positioning is always negotiated in multiple and contradictory discourses that are not easily captured by structurally oriented frameworks such as hegemonic or toxic masculinity. By focusing on the recent third development in men’s critical studies of masculinity, this work seek to investigates the discursive construction of masculinity in digital environment, in order to identify the various resources, in the form of established repertoires, that men use to position themselves in relation to conventional discourses of the masculine, and how masculinity both impinges upon and is transformed by those practices. Using a qualitative methodology, we analyze the content of two Facebook Pages dedicated to men's rights issues, called Antisessismo (Antisexism) and Diritti Maschili – Equità e Umanità (Men’s rights – Equity and Humanity). Our findings suggest that in these groups, masculinity is rarely negotiated or discussed but it is assumed as a common sense, providing a basis for shared social understandings. However, there is no unitary meaning to this common sense of masculinity, on the contrary, it contains many contradictory or competing arguments. Individuals are positioned by discourses, but, as our data demonstrate, these identity positions are by no means stable and consistent: users can shift between different modes of masculinity and actively re-create positions for themselves, especially in response to “trouble”.

Travail de groupe avec des hommes et aide mutuelle : l’exemple d’un service pour des pères séparés ayant des difficultés d’accès à leurs enfants

Cet article présente les résultats d’une recherche portant sur l’expérience de groupe telle qu’elle est perçue par des pères ayant des difficultés d’accès à leurs enfants. Ils ont fait appel aux services d’un organisme communautaire proposant un groupe de soutien ouvert pour des pères dans leur situation. En étudiant les récits recueillis auprès de quatorze pères et de deux intervenants, on constate la présence de plusieurs dynamiques d’aide mutuelle. L’analyse des entrevues permet de faire des liens entre la conceptualisation de l’aide mutuelle et les témoignages des pères, puis d’élaborer de nouvelles pistes d’intervention auprès de groupes d’hommes.This article presents research findings on group experience as perceived by fathers facing children custody issues. They used the services of a community organization that offered an open group for fathers in their situation. By studying interviews with 14 fathers and 2 practitioners, we note the presence of several dynamics of mutual aid. The analysis of the interviews indicates links between the conceptualization of the mutual aid and the testimonies of the fathers as well as describing new ways of intervention, especially with men’s groups.

Multivalent masculinity and #MeToo

The deadly combination of male supremacy and toxic masculinity (MSTM) systemically and culturally promotes, supports, and defends violence against women, girls, femmes, and “lesser” men. This article provides working definitions for male supremacy and toxic masculinity and explores the damage they can do on their own and when combined. Multivalent masculinity offers a new way to navigate gender identity and expression by allowing for a spectrum of experiences. The infographic of the gender unicorn, developed by Trans Student Educational Resources, is a useful tool for “men’s” groups to employ as they seek to cultivate multivalent masculinity. The most important work of multivalent masculinity is: (i) to break open the definition, understanding, and recognition of what it means to “be a man”; (ii) to be painfully cognizant of the harm done by MSTM; and (iii) actively to resist being shackled or defined by MSTM.

Engaging Afghan men at a societal level to increase women’s access to contraception

Mother and child mortality rates in Afghan internally displaced person (IDP) camps are high. Most women have unplanned pregnancies; many are child brides. Contraception can lower maternal mortality/morbidity from unintended pregnancy and short birth intervals, but in Afghan culture men make health decisions. Using knowledge of Afghan society gleaned from Afghan health workers, we trained respected elders and imams to start men’s groups to share practical, financial, and religious facts about contraception and promote discussion. The aim was to inform and allay misconceptions and fears so informed spousal conversation could occur; the overall objective was to allow women wanting spaced pregnancies or smaller families to gain spousal understanding and approval for use of contraception. Societal responses were monitored for one year among nine hundred families in three IDP camps where weekly men’s groups were conducted. Taking photographs captured unique ethnographic aspects of the intervention especially for those involved in this research who were not in Afghanistan and hence missed being directly engaged with the community. The maternal and infant health challenges and cultural issues addressed are global in nature; this model is globally applicable to other camps and Islamic societies.

Troubling coalitions. Some remarks on the (hardly audible) voice of pro-equality men’s groups in gender equality advocacy

This paper sets off to outline some reflections on the subject position occupied by pro-equality men’s groups within overarching discourses of gender equality. Discussion makes reference to the cases of Men Engage Europe and Maschile Plurale, two loosely organized networks of men that support gender equality in different ways at the EU supranational-level and the Italian national-level respectively. Fragments of the voices of these organizations were gathered during two semi-structured interview conducted in the context of my doctoral fieldwork. This paper argues that men supporting gender equality attempt to participate in feminism from the difficult position of ‘unspoken’ subjects. More specifically, I argue that the tension between narrative of inclusion and narratives of ‘sisterhood’ within feminism produce overarching discourses of gender equality in which men’s subject position is unspoken. Based on these premises, I attempt to offer some reflections on what is gained and what is perhaps lost in the process.

The Great Influenza

Concentrating on America, this chapter explores the immense outpouring of volunteerism, compassion, and self-sacrifice wrought by the Great Influenza as seen in the response of traditional charitable institutions such as churches and men’s groups. Women, however, constituted by far the most significant charitable force, distinguishing this pandemic from all previous ones. From the Vanderbilts and McAdoos to black nurses, women crossed barriers into the most impoverished, hardest-hit neighbourhoods as ambulance drivers and orderlies, workers in diet kitchens, and carers for the ill and their families. They swept floors, fed the impoverished, took in orphans, and nursed the dangerously ill. In all these endeavours, they were the organizers as well as the workers. These crossings of class, ethnic, and racial divides, moreover, occurred within a general context of heightening racism, economic strife, jingoistic nationalism, and anti-immigrant hatred.

“We’re Not Equipped”: The Paradox of Intersectional Failures in the Formation of Men’s Gender Justice Groups

Men’s involvement in the antiviolence and women’s rights movements has increased in recent decades, but men’s groups still struggle to recognize difference among men. This study is based on a year-long participant observation and interview study with two gender justice groups directed toward men of marginalized communities. A third group, Men Stopping Violence (MSV), played a paradoxical role that elucidates some dynamics and difficulties of intersectional organizing: MSV’s training and resources were crucial for both groups, but MSV’s failure to organize intersectionally was as important in their formation. From these examples, I theorize three categories of ways that mainstream organizations fall short of intersectional inclusion—organizational elements that are culturally unacceptable to marginalized communities, necessary elements that are absent, and environmental comfort—and make suggestions for intersectional social movement praxis.