Tori Amos once sang, "It's not a question if I can fight by your side and withstand anything."
As a man taking part in feminist discourse — albeit in an insignificant and inconsequential manner — I've always been worried about overstepping the boundaries, especially since my focus shifted from my concern last spring with women's issues to now concentrating on men's issues within a feminist context. My intentions were never to commandeer feminism's focus onto the latter, but rather, I wanted to write about diverse and intersecting problems in order to expose a side of the movement rarely publicized and understood.
One of the major reasons behind my focus on men's issues this semester is the men's rights movement that vilifies and denigrates feminism. Negative stereotypes already abound around feminism without the help of wrongfully angry men.
In other words, these activists often play the victim card, criticize feminism in a non-constructive way and do not value women's experiences. To put it simply, their privilege blinds them from defining the root of the problem beyond a superficial abhorrence of all that is feminism. Similarly, my lived experience as a male inevitably privies me from certain insights across various issues, but I plan each column with full knowledge of my privilege and its problematization of my understanding of systemic issues.
Though there have existed, and still exist, contentions regarding the role of men in feminism, I subscribe to the belief that men can participate and advance the causes of feminism despite their status as part of the dominant group. Particularly because feminism takes into account the intersecting nature of identities, obviously not every man falls into every category of privilege, for one. And most importantly, feminism entails a dedication to equality and social justice. With that as a basic working definition of the term, men should engage with and support the movement at the least.
To illustrate some examples of men in feminism, I'd like to briefly mention some organizations that work toward the ultimate goal of gender equality. According to its website, the National Organization for Men Against Sexism "advocates a perspective that is pro-feminist, gay affirmative, anti-racist, dedicated to enhancing men's lives, and committed to justice on a broad range of social issues." Though it uses the term "pro-feminist," the organization embodies a truly feminist perspective.
In addition, the national organization Men Can Stop Rape, based in Washington, looks to mobilize young men and redefine the construction of masculinity in order to prevent male violence against women. It has launched media campaigns aimed at reframing the idea of male strength in the context of male violence against women.
In a similar vein, the White Ribbon Campaign seeks to end this same type of violence, but on an international level with a comparable focus on educating men and boys. Campaigns across the world raise awareness, challenge the status quo, educate youth and work with women's organizations.
Lastly, with a similar degree of influence and reach, the global alliance MenEngage, comprised of nongovernmental organizations and United Nations agencies, aims to rally men and boys as advocates and activists of gender equality.
As benefactors and part of an unequal system, men do have a responsibility to address gender inequality for their own sake and the sake of others. Regarding feminism as a demonic movement wanting to castigate and castrate men only sets us back on the path toward gender inequality.
Never forget the egalitarian ideals of feminism, and at the least be able to see beyond anti-feminist rhetoric. Even if we all don't take up arms to advocate for the movement, we can live our lives in accordance to the precepts of feminism.
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Elisha Sum is a senior majoring in English and French. He can be reached at Elisha.Sum@tufts.edu.
