World's first males studies course.

[hazchem]

I'm kinda of speechless Males studies course at South Australian UNI
I'm not sure if I'm angry or confused. I feel like really it's unnecessary but don't know if I'm being baised because I think it's good there is women studies although I think most Unis have moved to gender studies now.

Oh and not sure if this should be another thread but... If you start looking at things through a feminist lens is it ever possible to stop? I'm studying sociology at the moment and I keep asking myself but "what about women?" when I look at the other theories.

No, I don't think it is possible. Ever since I had my 'scales falling from eyes' moment, I can't look at anything without analysing it through a feminist lens. I seem to spend a lot of my life now in a state of mild fury at the world, so I sincerely wish I could stop occasionally!

this is worring CaptChaos I may need to change my degree :)

It's not you, haz, it's how the link puts it.

Personally, I think it's disappointing we've got to a point where gender studies centres (which used to be women's studies) might now need feminists to split off and teach feminist theory elsewhere.

I would like just to see 'women's studies' back.

I think it is possible to 'switch off' and study without bringing in explicit feminist theory, but not possible to stop noticing feministy stuff. But what's wrong with that?

I just wondered if will effect my ability to write essays with other theories.
I'm happy seeing the world through a feminist lens, even if it make some angry sometimes.

Hazchem, slightly off-topic, but given you are a fellow Aussie and seem a bit more clued up on this stuff that I am atm, what do you think about the Mens Shed movement? I've just come across it and am having a bit of a wtf? moment. I mean, what it is supposed to be combating is serious - male depression, suicide, esp the situation in rural Australia- and something needs to be done, but it also seems, from another perspective like a whole group of mens' clubs, funded by all levels of Australian government. I may also be slightly biased in that I am a keen woodworker who would love to be able to go along to a local council funded place which has tools, courses and so on.

it just seems a bit of a weird way to address the issue.

I have several thoughts on it.

First It feels a real need in the community particularly in country areas. For a really long time women in country areas had access to support from organisations such as CWA. There isn't that sort of thing for men in general. It is also working, from memory with the organisation Beyond Blue. Rural men are really at risk of suicide. Death rates go up during periods of droughts and in general rural men have access to pretty violent means if they want to commit suicide so if they attempt it are likely to be successful.

They are often really involved in the local community so do things like make cubby(wendy) houses for playgroups, bird houses ect. And these items don't come with any value judgement or doctrine.

I also think it's healthy to have womens only and mens only spaces when the reason for having them is about making sure that people are able to be involved in something where they wouldn't feel comfortable with if it was mixed sex. Other examples I can think of are womens only swimming pools.

I think it would be good if we could have proper facilities available to use for everyone too. Although I know my local tafe does woodworking for fun and I think that is subsidized.

And finally I believe it started as response to a particularly community/localities need. And that is the sort of thing that helps change societies. It may not be the only way to address mens health but it is a “promising practice” .

Don't fall for UniSA's spin. The fact remains that two of the lecturers for this course have been published on the viciously misogynist hate site A Voice for Men.

Here's one of them in his own words, from the OP's link:

Male Studies lecturer Greg Andresen is also the Australian correspondent for US-based site National Coalition For Men, which declares false rape accusations to be "psychological rape", argues that talking about violence against women makes men invisible.

Asked about his connection to NCFM, he said they were the longest-running organisation in the world to look at discrimination against men and boys.

"Certainly they don't shy away from touching issues like false rape allegations, domestic violence, some of those hot topics," he said.

"We have had 20 if not 30 or 40 years where the only study on gender has been from a feminist perspective … that's why I think this course is so long overdue."

So he is explicitly characterising the course as something that is needed in order to counter feminism. Andresen is also the founder of the One in Three campaign, which aims to convince people that women commit domestic violence at close to the same rates as men.

The men's health stuff is just a cover. The salient point here, and one which should be very worrying to feminists, is that MRAs have gotten a foot in academia. As they are highly organised and determined, I'm sure they'll proceed to leverage their new position to the fullest extent, utilising the language of 'equality'.

The MRA movement is making advances every day - in the courts, and now in the universities.

I should add that the university has possibly approved the course in good faith, realising (as most people do) that the physical and psychological health issues particular to men do require serious academic attention.

And it is very crafty of the MRAs to use men's health as an angle into academia, as it is a legitimate topic. But I'm sure they won't stop there. Their real agenda is anti-feminism, and we should not be surprised to see the usual MRA obsessions (all of which revolve in some way around regaining men's control over women and children, which the feminist movement has eroded) popping up in new male studies courses soon.

Hopefully the students are able to push back the agenda then. As it sounds like they will be post grads doing development work. It is a sad state of affairs if something so important as health because a battle ground for those who are more interested in point scoring then helping.

I'm a woman and consider myself a feminist and I can understand that Male Studies are taught at university. I think males also face many challenges too in today's world. The world seems to the oyster of the "alpha" male but there are lot of men out there too who don't meet that criteria and are also having a lot of difficulties to fulfil what's expected of them (both emotionally and financially).

Gender divisions and societal expectations are tough on both men and women. The fact that women's place in the world needs to be analysed and studies doesn't rule out that men's place also deserves respectful attention.