Whenever I tell someone I'm interested in the study of masculinities, I fear that they will think of me as one of the "male studies" advocates in this article.
First thing I noticed here: the unproblematic link made between maleness and XY chromosomes. Second: an emphasis on difference rooted in biology (which is held to be real and all-powerful, or at least the base upon which the superstructure of social life delicately rests). Third: the denigration of feminism and "political correctness". Fourth: use of the term "misandry". Fifth: the claim that schools are failing boys.
Seriously? Sing us another one.
So same old, same old as far as the substance goes. Why the name change? As the website for the Symposium on Male Studies explains: "Male Studies refers to the multidisciplinary study of the male human being, boys and men. Men Studies, by definition, has focused on fully grown men. Male studies will be comprehensive of males of all ages."
I think this has more to do with definitional issues (male vs. men -- the former is taken to be more easily understood and "real", based as it is on "real" biological science) than with some kind of distinction between boys and men as subjects of research, as masculinity theorists have most definitely written about boys.
Elsewhere on that page, in response to whether "male studies" is essentialist, the FAQ explains: "One fundamental question of Male Studies is whether there are essential features of being male. Having a male body is clearly one of them."
But just what is a "male body"? How do we decide who is male and female? Most people don't on the basis of chromosomes, and most people don't even know their own chromosomal makeup. How do you know if you're male, then? Who counts?
As best I can tell, these aren't questions that "male studies" cares to investigate. This is the gender theory of the patriarchy; the defense of the stuff that "everyone knows". In other words, it's the stuff that feminists and critical gender theorists have been challenging for decades, and the stuff that we will go on challenging, no matter what its proponents take to calling it.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
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"Male body"? XY? *headdesk headdesk headdesk*
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of awesome people living and redefining radical masculinities, and putting a lot of thought into what it means to be male, but I guarantee you none of them are in "male studies".
No, EVERYONE is perpetuating misandry. Men perhaps more than women.
ReplyDeleteBut feminism is perpetuating false statistics and half truths. If I understand male studies correctly, they want to rectify that.
It isn't so much a turning against feminism as a turning away from it.
Bottom line:
Feminism just isn't remotely suitable for academic truth seeking. I don't know if male studies is but we'll see soon enough.
Well, Anon, as someone who just spent the day reading economics papers on innovation theory, I assure you than feminists are far from the only people perpetuating false statistics and half-truths, what ever that means.
ReplyDelete"But feminism is perpetuating false statistics and half truths."
ReplyDeleteSuch as?
Also, hilarious how dudes like Paul apparently have alerts set up for male studies and are rushing around the interwebs to defend it on every blog it's mentioned at.