Gender relations

Maskulinist.no is a website for discussion of men’s experience and for developing a new men’s perspective on contemporary western society. Ultimately, improved gender relations is what we would like to see, and what we aim at.

We believe it is necessary to explore and re-examine men’s own position. We should acknowledge possible discrimination/oppression of men as well as identify areas of unjustified male superiority. Today men’s identity as gender is "muddled". We are seen as a negative contrast and a “remainder” to you-know-who. Suggestions about identity flourish and certainty is sparse.

Is maskulinist.no a ”Men’s rights” initiative? Not exactly. Men’s rights, and in general the term ”rights”, typically refers to government-granted rights and benefits. We, however, would just as much like to see reduced state interference between the genders, as we would like to see increased activity beneficial to men. One example would be men’s position towards children. In this area we claim that oppression of men prevails, and perhaps this can be quite satisfactory alleviated just by abolishing present law and law enforcement detrimental to men. Law specifically supporting men may be unnecessary. 

We believe “inter-gender energy” is a rich and manifold source of activity as well as a source of meaning. The state, on the other hand, is tragically sexless. Perhaps men and women can be better off dealing with each other directly, also as groups (analogous to interest groups) in society, rather than leaning on zealous government staging? Any two holding a precious source of energy should beware of exploiters. The latter, however, may be a particularly Norwegian/Scandinavian anxiety, as a generally far-reaching state is found in those countries.

Gender dialogue requires both genders having a voice. And behind a voice we need thinking and, of course, feelings - awareness and insight into feelings. In maskulinist.no we endeavour to contribute to the articulation of men’s experience and views, and to develop a men’s thinking and perspective on society.

E-mail: redaksjonATmaskulinist.no   Replace AT with @

Published August 15th 2007