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European Women's Voice, Autumn 2011 AUTUMN 2011 European Women’s Voice The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in the European Union (EU), working to promote women’s rights and equality between women and men. EWL membership extends to organisations in all 27 EU member states and three of the candidate countries, as well as to 20 European-wide bodies, representing a total of more than 2000 organisations. In this issue The other half of gender: feminism ••• and men’s role in achieving equality The EWL’s seminar on men and feminism: new paths of reflection for the women’s movement p.02 ••• Men and feminism: the state of equality today p.04 ••• From public policies © ‘Féministe barbue’ by looking4poetry, Flickr to initiatives of feminist men: what Editorial: involvement of men? By Brigitte Triems, EWL President & Cécile Gréboval, EWL Secretary General p.28 In October 2011, the European Women’s would like to thank them warmly for their ••• Lobby (EWL) organised an inaugural sem- expertise, availability and efforts. inar on the topic of men and feminism, EWL Position Paper which provided a forum for reflection on The seminar could not have taken place ‘The role of men and masculinities, anti-feminism, initiatives without the support of the Institut pour of feminist men and equality policies in- l’Egalité des Femmes et des Hommes boys in achieving volving men. The aim of the seminar was (Belgium), Vleva, the liaison agency for to update ourselves on current thinking Flanders-Europe, and the European Com- gender equality’ and action concerning men’s role in the mission. We thank them for their help. p.39 struggle for gender equality, and to con- ••• sider how we can work together to bring We have tried to make this publication about a society founded upon feminist enriching and interesting. For us, the is- values. sues raised inform our work for equality between women and men and the pro- This second edition of the European motion of women’s rights in Europe. We Women’s Voice brings together the con- hope you enjoy the articles within and tributions of the speakers at the semi- that they provide stimulus for further nar and of other committed experts. We discussion! 1 European Women’s Voice - AUTUMN 2011 © Thomas Brown The EWL’s seminar on men and feminism: new paths of reflection for the women’s movement By Pierrette Pape, EWL Policy Officer and Project Coordinator It was by way of a seminar for for feminist groups and activists. In on the other, so as to eliminate the researchers and activists that the response, Valérie Lootvoet (Director risk of a takeover or a hijacking of the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) of Université des Femmes in Belgium) fundamental demands of feminism. decided to approach the question of highlighted many points which were (pro-) feminist men and their role in drawn from research with men and The contributions of Mélissa Blais and the feminist movement, as well as the women involved in gender equality Francis Dupui-Déri (both researchers at development of new public equality activism: even if men can understand the University of Quebec in Montreal) policies. masculine domination and do try highlighted the reactionary arguments to defeat it in their daily lives or developed by certain men and men’s On Saturday 22 October, in Brussels, through activism, can they really be groups in response to the advances more than 90 people benefited from involved in women’s movements won by the feminist movement over the expertise and experience of the without reproducing or benefiting the past 40 years. These masculinist EWL’s guests. Under the title, “The from wider patriarchal structures? As discourses, promoted by an anti- other half of gender: Masculinities an illustration, the example was given feminist men’s movement, call for a and men’s roles towards equality”, of the very positive image afforded to return to the “natural” order between the speakers’ contributions raised those men who display their feminism, the sexes, and accuse feminists of many pertinent questions of vital whilst women continue to experience causing various crises of masculinity importance to the women’s movement contempt or indifference when they experienced by men. Through and its promotion of equality between call for equality. looking at a supporting study on women and men in Europe. This was feminist organisations in Quebec, a breath of fresh air for EWL members It is important for women and for the participants in the seminar were as they were afforded time both (pro-) feminist men alike, whether shown the diversity of anti-feminist to reflect upon and to share their they are researchers or activists, attacks and the impact these had on own experiences, returning to their to be aware of this risk and to step activists. These attacks lead activists to countries with a better understanding back from their work continuously reduce their demands and actions in of the question of the role of men in in order to evaluate the strength of anticipation of formal complaints, the achieving equality. men’s involvement and the feminist disruption of events or other forms of credentials of their projects. A verbal, physical or symbolic violence. Can men speak for women? constant back-and-forth must be established between the real lives of The contribution of the researchers This simple question, the answer women and the women’s movement from Quebec is crucial as it improves to which may seem clear, captures on the one hand, and the public our ability to identify anti-feminist a number of fundamental issues interventions of (pro-) feminist men attacks. It also prompts feminist 2 European Women’s Voice - AUTUMN 2011 organisations and activists to develop the experiences highlighted by the front and centre, tackle the structural responses so they can continue their earlier speakers show that to achieve domination with which women are actions and maintain their demands. equality requires transformation of confronted women. Collaboration One of the conclusions from this study the power imbalance, if we really with men can only be productive if it is on anti-feminist attacks is particularly want to change the structures of our faithful to this principle. important for feminist organisations: societies by imposing equality. women-only organisations seem to be more protected against certain Tomas Wetterberg (founder of the strains of anti-feminist violence, as NGO “Men for Gender Equality” Further reading: women rub shoulders less directly in Sweden) used his own personal with anti-feminists. Finally, these experience to explain how men can EWL Position Paper, The role of contributions provide valuable insight invest themselves in gender equality, men and boys in promoting gender for the critique of the new generation and can even create structures for equality, 2004 of equality policies which is based on a activism or research to help eradicate “win-win” model for men and women. masculine domination. Looking Jouni Varanka, Gender equal- at the research on masculinities, ity needs men, men need gender Is the new generation of equality he showed that many men refute equality, 2007 policies anti-feminist? traditional models of masculinity and Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs wish to construct new relationships and Health, Men and Gender This may seem like a blunt question with women, whilst developing new Equality. Policy in Finland, 2007 but it is certainly worth asking in models for young men. Following this, light of the examples presented by Matt McCormack Evans shared his Council Conclusions on Men and Pierrette Pape (Policy Officer and own experience that led him to create Gender Equality, EU, 2006 Project Coordinator at the EWL) in the project “Anti Porn Men” in the the introduction to the seminar (see UK. He used his contribution to the Francis Dupuis-Déri, Les hommes following article). seminar to present his ideas on what proféministes : compagnons de the feminist movement would have route ou faux amis, 2008 The presentation by Jouni Varanka to gain by including and working with Francis Dupuis-Déri, Nous sommes (former expert for the Gender Equality men. tous masculinistes, 2005 Unit of the Finnish Ministry for Social Affairs and Health) on Finnish equality There are many examples of wonderful Interview with Florence Montrey- policies seems to confirm the fears projects that directly involve men naud, Les vrais hommes ne paient highlighted above: new equality policy in the deconstruction of current pas pour ça, on the website Egalité, in Finland seeks to demonstrate to models of masculinities and the 2011 men the benefits they can gain from construction of an egalitarian society. gender equality measures, therefore Many projects run by men have The men who believe porn is it engages with new themes that are chosen, in particular, to address the wrong, Article in The Guardian, believed could interest “masculinists”: question of violence against women, 2010 what about the absenteeism of boys highlighting models of intervention or Publications: from school? What about violence prevention to young people in order to against men? Whilst this new deconstruct the gendered stereotypes Université des Femmes, La fabrique approach to equality policies serves and the social expectations regarding des hommes, Chronique féministe to bolster support from men, its the role of boys and girls. n°106, 2010 content poses problems in terms of feminist demands: to move towards Exercising caution regarding Mélissa Blais and Francis Dupuis- greater equality,
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