Men's Liberation
This community is first and foremost a feminist community for men and masc people, but it is also a place to talk about men’s issues with a particular focus on intersectionality.
Rules
Everybody is welcome, but this is primarily a space for men and masc people
Non-masculine perspectives are incredibly important in making sure that the lived experiences of others are present in discussions on masculinity, but please remember that this is a space to discuss issues pertaining to men and masc individuals. Be kind, open-minded, and take care that you aren't talking over men expressing their own lived experiences.
Be productive
Be proactive in forming a productive discussion. Constructive criticism of our community is fine, but if you mainly criticize feminism or other people's efforts to solve gender issues, your post/comment will be removed.
Keep the following guidelines in mind when posting:
- Build upon the OP
- Discuss concepts rather than semantics
- No low effort comments
- No personal attacks
Assume good faith
Do not call other submitters' personal experiences into question.
No bigotry
Slurs, hate speech, and negative stereotyping towards marginalized groups will not be tolerated.
No brigading
Do not participate if you have been linked to this discussion from elsewhere. Similarly, links to elsewhere on the threadiverse must promote constructive discussion of men’s issues.
Recommended Reading
- The Will To Change: Men, Masculinity, And Love by bell hooks
- Politics of Masculinities: Men in Movements by Michael Messner
Related Communities
!feminism@beehaw.org
!askmen@lemmy.world
!mensmentalhealth@lemmy.world
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I get it (and I appreciate you posting this) but I'm just not sure how this is "the Left's" fault.
To me, this argument feels similar to all the people who unironically claim all political problems are due to Democrats -- health care, student loan debt, queer rights... apparently never considering Republicans culpable or responsible. One side is the adults that can be blamed for faults and must be expected to do better, and the other side are children who are either ignored or, worse, applauded for doing the bare minimum.
Similarly, I think saying that "the Left has failed men" is a vast oversimplification. The Right is persuasive and doesn't need things like "rightness," "truth," or "morality" on their side. Saying that your problems are due to, say, women or gays is a much easier sell than actually addressing your problems by trying to work on yourself and the masculinity you can interact with.
I wholeheartedly agree but I would also argue that F.D. has a similar take at least the way I see it.
I would say he argues that while right grifters are nothing new they were usually not as successful and medially present as they are today. He attributes this to the fact that media engagement is the only metric that counts and that any sharing of a video leads to it being more present in the algorithm. Additionally he argues that in the past most men were able to eventually get a job and support themselves and a family and that with the rise of neoliberalism and worsening wages and inflation the rate of men who are able to do that has shrunk drastically leading to a rise of mental health illnesses but also suicides and other Deaths of Despair. Which have become a somewhat breeding ground for grifters to enrapture more men to their cause with their false promises.
Finally he argues that it is not in the interest to even try to appeal to men the same way the right does as it is - as you have yourself stated - fundamentally antithetical to our causes and beliefs. But that the focus should always be placed on changing the system and being active in our communities. And that changes to the system have to be understood as being beneficial to men as well (duh!).
So I think maybe my framing of his video was a bit too shallow, but thank you for posting your comment. I feel the same way especially in that "the left has failed men" has become an incredible oversimplification for a multilayered problem
The problem with modern right-wing and manosphere grifters is the internet, social media and algorithms giving them platform and reach - that they would never have gotten otherwise. Think Tate without internet. But with internet all you need is be entertaining and understand the algorithms - and you will get the reach to sell you ideas or junk.