I haven't thought about the men's movement since the 80s, when I was the rep in Detroit for Ms. magazine. Before you jump to conclusions about my political leanings, let me say that I am more a humanist than a feminist. In fact, I became pro-male during those heady days of breaking barriers in the automotive industry because men helped me in business much more than women. So much for female solidarity!
A survey came across my desk that had me wondering, "Is there a Men's Movement today? And if so, what shape has it taken?" David Thorpe provides some categories to ponder. These are his definitions, not mine.
Mythopoetic Men's Movement - interested in men's inner work: recovery, working through grief issues, anger management.
Feminist Men's Movement - much more political, and identifies with the more militant end of feminism.
Father's Rights Groups - organized primarily around issues of single and divorced fathers, and their problems with court bias, the divorce industry.
Men's Rights - overlaps with Fathers Rights groups, but with a broader spectrum of interests (including the draft, men's treatment in prisons, choices for men) and an opposition to gender-roles.
Christian Men's Movement - anti-feminist, favors traditional gender roles; primarily evangelical and fundamentalist Christians.
Men's Recovery - interested in ways that men are damaged by our society; a large focus on the problems of men who have grown isolated from their fellows and trapped by their sex-roles.
The Fatherhood Movement - focuses particularly on the problem of the absent father.
What do you think? Is the men's movement dead?
photo credit: david_shankbone via photopin cc