Barbara Kay: Male Studies — a proposed curriculum

Submitted by Scottie on Thu, 2010-04-15 03:04

Barbara Kay gives a fairly decent account on the need for Male Studies here. There isn't much time to leave comments, so have at it! Excerpt:

'The 93rd anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge, considered one of Canada’s defining moments as a young nation, was commemorated at the National War Memorial last Friday.
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But of course, it was not “young people” who “braved gunfire,” it was young men.

You’ll see the same tendency in reports of coal mine disasters: “Miners” are trapped, “rescuers” race against time, “families” await word. If you didn’t know better, you’d think miners, rescuers and families were a mixed bag of men and women, when in fact the first two — the ones taking the risks and facing the terror — are almost invariably men, while only the third — anguishing, but alive and well — are women and children.
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Interest in creating a program in Male Studies may have been spurred by weariness with feminism’s misandric myths. But its subject matter, one hopes, will unfold organically along rigorous scholarly lines. Perhaps it will venture into the three “Ps” of normative masculinity: man as progenitor, protector and provider — and what happens to cultures that assign a low value to these roles. I would urge Male Studies specialists to go where the evidence leads — into areas such as intimate partner violence.

As it happens, the inauguration of the Male Studies program coincides with the 98th anniversary — April 15 — of the sinking of the Titanic. As another putative course, “The Titanic and Male Honour Codes in Western Civilization” would open up a fascinating discussion on values around the perceived worth of men’s lives and women’s lives.'

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    Perhaps it [male studies] will venture into the three “Ps” of normative masculinity: man as progenitor, protector and provider

Ms. Kay, for all her value to our cause, reveals herself with that line. She wants MS to teach the three Ps—man as provider, protector, and patsy. You know, keep pulling the plow.

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Submitted by Hunchback on Sat, 2010-04-17 11:00

My interpretation of her message is that we should teach men to VALUE the accomplishments that traditional male roles have brought to society. Teach kids that providing for a family is as honorable as squeezing out a kid. Teach kids that protecting your loved ones is not something that should be viewed suspiciously as domination over them. Teach kids that men have a right to be proud of their history and building the the world around us and, to honor our forefathers instead of blaming them for everything that is wrong with the world.

We've had enough devaluation of traditional male roles the past few decades, it's time to honor them again.

That does not mean I am not for equal rights and opportunity. I think men should not be looked down upon for choosing to raise their children instead of being a human ATM machine. I don't think a male nurse, or teacher, or social worker or any man doing any traditionally female dominated profession should be looked down upon. I definitely think males should have the same opportunities to pursue the career or life style of their choice without judgment or condemnation, but i also think like Barbara Kay that the men who have created this world and given all of us the choices that we have today should be honored for their contributions and sacrifice.

I see no problem in teaching young men to be proud that they were born male and the contributions men have made to the world. But I would hope that male studies also teaches them that the world today is still anything they want to make it, because as young men they have the spark of creation in them. Men are diversity it's self. Men have adapted themselves to every role the world has ever offered.

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Submitted by Paragon on Sat, 2010-04-17 15:57

basically, we should stop blaming men for acting like men.

we're men. it's what we do.

it's not perfect. it's not evil.

it's NORMAL.

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Submitted by dudejo on Sun, 2010-04-18 16:44