UCSC Student Paper: Men Venture into Feminist Studies Major

Submitted by anthony on Thu, 2008-11-13 13:12

Story here. Excerpt:

'In 1999, at Boston College, associate professor Mary Daly refused to enroll two male students into her “Introduction to Feminist Ethics” class, because she believed that a male’s presence would interfere with the female students’ learning. There was a large backlash against Daly, and she eventually agreed to retire.

Within UC Santa Cruz’s feminist studies department, although significantly outnumbered by women, men do major in feminist studies.

Timothy Clark is a third-year feminist studies major and a teacher’s assistant for “Intro to Feminist Studies.” He is also the only male in his TA seminar. Clark acknowledges that there are still stereotypes about studying feminism.
...
“As a man, to be involved with feminist studies, you have to be very open to the idea that you’re the privileged people, and you have to be willing to be uncomfortable some of the time,” Clark said. “Men are generally the dominant voice in society. Feminist studies is trying to change that. It’s working toward a more equal and just society.”

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Comments

It's good to see men studying feminism.

If only feminism, and it's male equivalent could be treated and thought of with equal concern, we wouldn't have these issues.....

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Submitted by han090 on Fri, 2008-11-14 02:34

"you have to be very open to the idea that you’re the privileged people, and you have to be willing to be uncomfortable some of the time"

I could never take a feminist study course(yes im male) because i just don't buy into the whole "men are privileged" line. Im not saying there arent inequalities in society but the fact is they happen on both sides. Unfortunetly its very politically incorrect for men to stand up to feminism or to challenge their notions of male privilege or "fairness". But if we, men and woman, want equality to be a reality we have to be prepared to let go of these notions and forge ahead to end the inequality but in so doing we must not create animosity towards either side, which is a point the feminist movement has failed to realize. And as men we clearly can not leave the fight for equality up to feminists, they have managed to strip us of our reproductive rights already... Any of us who are willing to be mocked and jeered for the "audacity" of standing up to feminists need to do so now before the hill becomes any steeper.

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Submitted by Grummbler on Fri, 2008-11-14 09:30