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Masculinity politics

Public politics is overwhelmingly men's politics. In 1988, even after the 1975-1985 United Nations Decade for Women, men made up 85% of elected representatives worldwide. This rose to 90% by the early 1990s (Connell 1995:205). While feminism's challenge has not unseated male political power, it has made gender relations a political issue.

Politics that is directly concerned with masculinity and men's position in gender relations is known as masculinity politics. Within it, the two distinct strands of recuperative and progressive masculinity have emerged.

Recuperative masculinity seeks to recuperate or reinstate an idealised form of masculinity, often drawing on images from earlier, seemingly less complex times. It may include the following beliefs:

Post-industrial man has lost touch with his deep, essential, masculine self because of social change.
Rituals and rights of passage into manhood have been lost.
Heterosexual men have been wounded by changes in gender relations and need healing (masculinity therapy).
Women, especially feminists, are to blame for men's confusion and unhappiness.
Men are the new victims, especially in health and child custody issues.
Boys are the new victims at school because of women teachers and feminist reforms.

At their best, recuperative approaches have emphasised the emotional needs of men and boys as worthy of serious attention. At worst, they deny male responsibility in gender relations, blame women, and romanticise as universal a masculinity that is white, heterosexual, middle-class and westernised. (Connell 1995:204-224 provides a good overview.)

Progressive masculinity politics recognises change and diversity in men's lives and challenges restrictive stereotypes for both men and women. It encompasses the following beliefs:

Some masculinity practices are destructive for boys and young men, encouraging risky and aggressive behaviours.
These kinds of risky behaviours often harm and victimise boys and men as well as girls and women.
True gender equity in schools will benefit all students.
Support for men working to prevent violence through groups such as 'Men Against Sexual Assault' which has been working in Australian schools since the 1980s.
Masculinities are diverse and evolving and can help create a more just society for both men and women.
We can support many different ways of being masculine and feminine (Connell's notion of 'gender multiculturalism').

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