Comments for Radical Masculinity http://www.sundaybooth.com Because the Patriarchy isn't helping anybody... Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Pink Ribbons on the Floor by Liana http://www.sundaybooth.com/2012/02/04/pink-ribbons-on-the-floor/#comment-14 Liana Sun, 05 Feb 2012 07:00:56 +0000 http://www.sundaybooth.com/?p=111#comment-14 Very well said. Very well said.

]]> Comment on iPod de Deux by Philip Storvik http://www.sundaybooth.com/2012/01/30/ipod-de-deux-2/#comment-11 Philip Storvik Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:24:59 +0000 http://www.sundaybooth.com/?p=84#comment-11 I think the advances for a hand-held device are limited by how small we can functionally use something - until we can interface directly with the brain we're limited by our eyes and clumsy digits. Not sure we're looking at brain interfaces by then... possibly retinal trackers providing physical control with the eyes... I think the advances for a hand-held device are limited by how small we can functionally use something – until we can interface directly with the brain we’re limited by our eyes and clumsy digits. Not sure we’re looking at brain interfaces by then… possibly retinal trackers providing physical control with the eyes…

]]> Comment on Pitfalls of Being a Southerner by Stephanie http://www.sundaybooth.com/2012/01/28/pitfalls-of-being-a-southerner-2/#comment-10 Stephanie Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:40:30 +0000 http://www.sundaybooth.com/?p=67#comment-10 I saw this article...the second of I think, three, where, once again, our state politicians looked like complete idiots in the national news. I, too, would love to relocate back from where I lived in Charlotte, NC for 9 years....just not in the cards right now. AND...pretty much everyone I talk to that is from another state and has relocated here, cannot wait to move somewhere else. What scares me even more is that my children are about to enter school and I cannot imagine what I will encounter there. I saw this article…the second of I think, three, where, once again, our state politicians looked like complete idiots in the national news. I, too, would love to relocate back from where I lived in Charlotte, NC for 9 years….just not in the cards right now. AND…pretty much everyone I talk to that is from another state and has relocated here, cannot wait to move somewhere else. What scares me even more is that my children are about to enter school and I cannot imagine what I will encounter there.

]]> Comment on Raison d’être by Ixthvs http://www.sundaybooth.com/2012/01/24/raison-detre/#comment-9 Ixthvs Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:27:28 +0000 http://www.sundaybooth.com/?p=51#comment-9 My heart and mind are greatly warmed by the rubric you've chosen for your blog. I hope people understand, as you clearly explain, that it is not intended as a comprehensive definition of all you will be talking about but rather a prism through which unique perspectives may be had on myriad subjects. Two generations ago, in the early 1970s, small groups of men, in response to the public and private challenges of feminist women, began to consider how adherence to traditional masculinist norms oppressively limited the potential of our entire society. Following women's movement models, we Initially met in small consciousness raising groups to share our fears, strengths and aspirations and find ways to subvert male privilege and power-over in our lives. Many of us were surprised to discover how legitimately expansive the feminist paradigm could be, displaying new patterns of possibility in all aspects of our lives. Social coalitions of changing men began to grow across the country, and national conferences of men who previously would not have known how to work together -- gay, bi, straight, activist, academic -- promoted new visions of a gentler, less-aggrandizing masculinity. A national magazine, ultimately titled "Men and Masculinity" was published. As with all social movements, that momentum eventually diminished. The dominant paradigm grew stricter in response to the perceived excesses of the "Hippie" era, assailing feminism's image as elitist and scornful of working class values. Progressive organizing spawned an anti-feminist men's rights movement displaying reactionary misogynistic attitudes, and the national convocations slowly evolved into predominantly academic men's studies conferences, more and more cisgendered and less comfortable with coalitions with radical activists and GBT men. Nowadays, the term feminism labors under implications of elitism and obsolescence. The notion that men can share with women a progressive sense of gender role behavior is stifled by a return to the patriarchal diversion of the battle of the sexes. Still, the activism of past decades shows fruit in all kinds of alt social networks that defiantly thrive within the larger culture and brazenly affirm growing legions identifying as queer, nerd, et cetera. Which brings me back to your title choice. I maintain that masculinity, in its traditional hierarchical forms, remains the greatest impediment to social and political progress. The effectiveness of the feminist prism has not diminished and continues to allow men an historical opportunity to unburden not only themselves but all of society from the oppressiveness of power-over object/object consciousness. I'm glad to know we did not totally fail in our effort to pass along these visions and that the struggle continues. Namaste, indeed. My heart and mind are greatly warmed by the rubric you’ve chosen for your blog. I hope people understand, as you clearly explain, that it is not intended as a comprehensive definition of all you will be talking about but rather a prism through which unique perspectives may be had on myriad subjects. Two generations ago, in the early 1970s, small groups of men, in response to the public and private challenges of feminist women, began to consider how adherence to traditional masculinist norms oppressively limited the potential of our entire society. Following women’s movement models, we Initially met in small consciousness raising groups to share our fears, strengths and aspirations and find ways to subvert male privilege and power-over in our lives. Many of us were surprised to discover how legitimately expansive the feminist paradigm could be, displaying new patterns of possibility in all aspects of our lives. Social coalitions of changing men began to grow across the country, and national conferences of men who previously would not have known how to work together — gay, bi, straight, activist, academic — promoted new visions of a gentler, less-aggrandizing masculinity. A national magazine, ultimately titled “Men and Masculinity” was published. As with all social movements, that momentum eventually diminished. The dominant paradigm grew stricter in response to the perceived excesses of the “Hippie” era, assailing feminism’s image as elitist and scornful of working class values. Progressive organizing spawned an anti-feminist men’s rights movement displaying reactionary misogynistic attitudes, and the national convocations slowly evolved into predominantly academic men’s studies conferences, more and more cisgendered and less comfortable with coalitions with radical activists and GBT men.

Nowadays, the term feminism labors under implications of elitism and obsolescence. The notion that men can share with women a progressive sense of gender role behavior is stifled by a return to the patriarchal diversion of the battle of the sexes. Still, the activism of past decades shows fruit in all kinds of alt social networks that defiantly thrive within the larger culture and brazenly affirm growing legions identifying as queer, nerd, et cetera. Which brings me back to your title choice. I maintain that masculinity, in its traditional hierarchical forms, remains the greatest impediment to social and political progress. The effectiveness of the feminist prism has not diminished and continues to allow men an historical opportunity to unburden not only themselves but all of society from the oppressiveness of power-over object/object consciousness. I’m glad to know we did not totally fail in our effort to pass along these visions and that the struggle continues. Namaste, indeed.

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