What is Masculism?
1.
A movement which began in the 90's over concerns with men's rights. Masculists believe in equality for men in areas where they are currently not receiving equal rights or are unfairly treated and stereotyped. Masculists also believe women can be just as guilty of stereotyping men and discriminating them based purely on sex, as men are of women (See: Misandrist/ Misandry). The movement has grown rapidly in recent years with many women and indeed feminists agreeing with some or all of its core principles.
Masculists argue men are negatively portrayed in the media and rubbish certain radical feminist claims that 'the majority of men have the potential to be rapists' or the portrayal that men are violent and are always the aggressors in conflicts and that women are victims and that any violence from women is a result of male abuse. They state that depictions of violence towards men in the media is seen as humorous, yet is taken more seriously when the abuse is directed at women.
They also address other issues regarding men’s rights in areas where they are discriminated such as child custody, health expenditure, insurance costs, spousal abuse perpetrated against males by females and rape of males by females both not being taken seriously, male genital mutilation (circumcision) being socially accepted in many countries as opposed to female genital mutilation and other concerns such as suicide rates amongst men, education and employment and further criticisms of the media such as lack of positive reinforcement and role-models for young boys in the media, while presentation of positive female figures is a large aspect of much of the media.
John: Do you believe in equal rights for both men and women?
Katie: Of course, that’s why I believe in a lot of the ideas in modern Feminism as well as ideas in Masculism!
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