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Sexism
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 Proving
Manhood : Reflections on Men and Sexism (Men and Masculinity)
by Timothy Beneke
Is male chauvinism a
natural byproduct of American masculinity, or does it reflect a
deeper pain and fear at the heart of gender relations? With
sensitivity and honesty, Timothy Beneke, author of Men on Rape,
frames the issue of sexism as a problem of masculinity, one deeply
rooted in cultural ideals of manhood and forever opposed to the
feminine. Men are required to "prove" their masculinity
daily from childhood on. They are forced to endure situations of
stress and distress that demonstrate their strength and
unflappable endurance. In rituals such as sports, sex, and work,
men constantly invent and renew their masculine identities as they
learn to repress and reject all "feminized" behavior.
Pornography, homophobia, and the morning sports section become
crucial "proving grounds" where masculinity is tested
and asserted. Beneke argues that men demonstrate the attitudes
that underlie sexism in the psychically related practices of
reading the sports page and pornographic magazines. In both, men
can test their manhood vicariously. Following the lives and
careers of athletes religiously in the sports pages, men celebrate
and identify with the physical endurance and strength that is at
the core of the masculine ideal from the safety of their living
rooms. Gazing at languishing nudes in Playboy, men similarly
identify with an ideal of masculine prowess and superiority safe
from any threatening manifestations of female sexuality. Beneke
negotiates the minefield of sexual politics with intelligence and
skill. He draws extensively on his experience as an anti-rape
activist to understand the roots of male aggression. With personal
anecdotes of hero-worship and guilt over his own struggle with
latent sexism, Beneke incorporates a thought- provoking self
critique into this unique study of modern masculinity. About
the Author
Timothy Beneke is a freelance writer and author of Men on Rape
(1983). He lives in Oakland, California.  Also Available:
 | Homophobia
: A Weapon of Sexism/Includes Afterword and Annotated Bibliography
by Suzanne Pharr
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| Readings
for Diversity and Social Justice : An Anthology on Racism,
Sexism, Anti-Semitism, Heterosexsm, Classism, and Ableism
by Maurianne Adams (Editor), Warren
J. Blumenfeld (Editor), Carmelita Rose Castaneda (Editor),
Ximena Ziga (Editor), Madeline L. Peters (Editor)
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| Overcoming
Heterosexism and Homophobia by James T.
Sears(Editor), Walter L. Williams(Editor). |
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This list is from Harvard Anti-Sexist Men, (HASM)
which was founded in 1991 to encourage men to take responsibility
for sexism and male violence against women, and to challenge
traditional concepts of masculinity.
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The National Organization for Men Against Sexism
is an activist organization of men and women supporting positive
changes for men. NOMAS advocates a perspective that is
pro-feminist, gay-affirmative, anti-racist, and committed to
justice on a broad range of social issues including class, age,
religion, and physical abilities. We affirm that working to make
this nation's ideals of equality for all people a reality is the
finest expression of what it means to be men.
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Pro-Feminist Men -- Resources for men interested in the relation between feminism and men. Resources include book reviews, new and used books about men doing feminist writing and more.
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By Valerie Russell
Excerpt:
There is a battle now raging about whether or
not sexism and racism have any real elements in common, and
whether or not the collective struggle of one has any real
implications for the other. It is my position that the struggle
for liberation is a struggle toward a new humanness, and that one
dare not happen apart from any other struggle. The seeds which
spawn the racist mentality also spawn the sexist mentality, though
the results differ in both their historical manifestations and
degree of oppression. It is critical to any group of women,
working through a Christian perspective toward liberation, that we
take a careful look at sexism and racism in order to build an
understanding of their similarities and differences. If we are to
effect institutional change we need to capitalize upon the
similarities but to realistically acknowledge and be sensitive to
the differences. This will enable us to build a community of trust
with each other and also affirm the nature of pluralism within a
context of unity...
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More Anti-Sexism Websites:
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