Articles about Men
F-Word contributors discuss men and feminism. Although not all feminists concentrate their work on men, many believe feminism benefits them as well as women.
It's only rock'n'roll but I don't like it
Is it 'only rock'n'roll' when a well known male music star beats his wife or girlfriend? And why do men and women alike afford these stars second, third and fourth chances? Amanda McIndoe investigates
Amanda McIndoe // 1 June 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Features, Feminism, Men, Music, Violence
It's not feminism that hurts men
Jo T examines a recent article supporting claims that men are "the new second sex" and finds it to be a highly misleading piece that fails to consider the role of patriarchal structures in men's suffering and instead opts to blame feminism
Jo T // 21 May 2012
Categories: Culture and Media, Features, Feminism, Men
Finding feminism
Josh Hadley charts his journey from teenage dismissal to identifying as pro-feminist
Josh Hadley // 5 December 2010
Painful vagina? Your poor husband!
S's experience with vulvar vestibulitis - which makes penetrative sex painful - highlighted the phallocentric medical establishment and limited definitions of sex
S // 14 March 2010
Categories: Body and Health, Men, Sex and Relationships, Soundbites
Breaking the circle
We know that sexual violence is all too common and everyday. Here 'L' talks through repeat experiences of being targetted with abuse and sexual assault by boys and men
L // 25 May 2009
For the good of the species?
If you believe one story on a popular science news site, there's proof that older men "chasing" younger women benefits humankind (or should that be mankind?) Eirwen-Jane Pierrot considers the impact of these sensationalist claims on women in the real world
Eirwen-Jane Pierrot // 15 April 2009
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Sex and Relationships, Stereotypes, Violence
Alright darlin'
Selina Jervis reports that sexual harassment in public spaces has reached critical levels
Selina Jervis // 8 February 2009
Why my son wears pink
At two year's old, Penni F's son happily enthuses over both fairies and trucks. But, she worries, what happens when pressure to be a 'real man' kicks in?
Penni F // 19 August 2008
Categories: Family, Men, Stereotypes
Knife crime and masculinity
Forget single mums and absent fathers - the current spate of knife crime can be traced back to the so-called 'real man', argues Jennifer Drew
Jennifer Drew // 18 July 2008
Categories: Men, Stereotypes, Violence
Men! Feminism needs you! (Not your privilege...)
Anne Onne dispenses some advice for men commenting on feminist websites and blogs
Anne Onne // 14 June 2008
Cartoon special...
In a break from our usual text-based programming, a selection of cartoons on the theme of men and women, by Yvonne Howard
Yvonne Howard // 9 June 2008
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Are women and girls vulnerable?
Violent men do not attack girls or women because they are 'vulnerable', argues Jennifer Drew, and it deflects attention from the perpetrators to pretend otherwise
Jennifer Drew // 19 May 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Violence
The Oxbridge sex workers
Laurie Penny considers why so many Oxbridge students are going into prostitution and stripping, and the impact the media coverage of their stories has on women in less privileged positions
Laurie Penny // 11 May 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Politics and Current Affairs, Violence
The epidemic of male violence against women
A spate of convictions has put femicide into the headlines again. But, as Jennifer Drew reports, the media is still blaming women - and ignoring 'everyday' incidents of male violence against women
Jennifer Drew // 6 April 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Violence
Walking on eggshells
Approaching men on the street and asking them to undress and be photographed can be frightening - and highlights the struggle for women to find equality. Alex Brew explains
Alex Brew // 2 April 2008
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Violence
Why men should care about gender stereotypes
Alex Gibson considers the harm done by stereotypes of men as beer-swilling, emotionally-stunted brutes
Alex Gibson // 2 February 2008
Categories: Activism, Culture and Media, Men, Stereotypes
Filling the hole
The self-hating mindset, if not the medical condition, of anorexia is frighteningly common, argues Katie Muller
Katie Muller // 6 December 2007
Categories: Body and Health, Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Feminism, Men
Does 'gender neutral' language serve to cover up male violence?
Gender-neutral language applies to male criminals, but not to their female victims, argues Jennifer Drew
Jennifer Drew // 3 December 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Language, Men, Violence
How many lesbians does it take to sell a t-shirt?
Girl-on-girl action may be marketing gold, but has little benefit for actual lesbians, argues Joanna Whitehead
Joanna Whitehead // 4 November 2007
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Men, Stereotypes
From 'oy sexy' to 'frigid bitch' in 30 seconds
The odd wolf whistle might seem flattering, says Abi M, but catcalling and street harassment can easily turn into something more threatening
Abi M // 31 October 2007
Maid of the manor
Despite all our advances, men still dominate public life. But if they are so smart, asks Amity Reed, why can't they fathom how to do the housework?
Amity Reed // 30 August 2007
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
The farmer wants a wife, the wife wants a wife
Women don't want to be lumbered with the housework, but men aren't willing to pick up the bucket and mop. Right? JC Sutcliffe asks why women perpetuate the myth that men are incapable of doing domestic chores
JC Sutcliffe // 29 March 2007
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships, Work and Play
Suffering in Silence
One woman's story of street harassment turned George Mason from anti-feminist to women's rights advocate. Now, he urges more women to speak out about their experiences
George Mason // 1 March 2007
Pretending That Men Aren't Grown-Ups
Ellery takes issue with a Times article entitled "Pretending That Women Aren't Grown-Ups", which said that women should change their behaviour to prevent being raped. Ellery argues that that expecting women to take responsibility for rapists' actions is a double standard which sees men as irrational brutes and rape as a fact of life.
Ellery // 12 February 2006
Deconstructing Masculinity
Sheryl Plant argues that masculinity needs to be questioned and critiqued just as much as the concept of femininity; only then can male violence be fully addressed.
Sheryl Plant // 11 February 2006
Categories: Men
Who's the man?
Is masculinity simply "natural" or - like femininity - is it essentially performance? Holly Combe addresses this question and more as she reports on her first time at a Drag King workshop, and shares the results with The F-Word
Holly Combe // 1 August 2005
Categories: Fashion and Image, Men
Why men suck (and the women who have to)
When teaching English in Cambodia, a country with a pervasive, exploitative sex industry, Laura Carr was shocked to discover that almost all her western male friends were happy to participate.
Laura Carr // 17 September 2004
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Every Girl Wants a Stalker
Films, pop songs and mainstream popular culture all push the same message: that men must pursue women to ridiculous extremes, even if the attention is unwanted. Yet if women pursue men, they are seen as desperate, needy, and sad. Rachel E exposes the double standard.
Rachel E // 1 August 2004
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Why It's time for the 'battle of the sexes' to end
Lad culture has done nothing more than perpetuate petty hatred between the sexes. Enough is enough, says Laura Baldwin.
Laura Baldwin // 20 July 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Men, Sex and Relationships
A Perfect Delusion
What effect are men's magazines having on men's views of women and heterosexual relationships? Samantha Lyster thinks men who fall for the magazines' propaganda about women are setting themselves up for a fall.
Samantha Lyster // 19 April 2004
Categories: Culture and Media, Fashion and Image, Men, Sex and Relationships
Body Language Speaks Volumes
Reading feminist research on the subject of non-verbal behaviour was a revelation to Anna Sandfield. Here she explains how women and men's subconscious body language (touching, sitting, even smiling) can reinforce gender roles - without even being aware of it.
Anna Sandfield // 19 October 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Sexual Healing
Ben Thurgood wonders why the feminist concept of equality in sex hasn't entered into the mainstream - after all, equality is just common sense, surely?
Ben Thurgood // 19 September 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
'Feminists are Sexist'
Should feminists have to spend exactly half their time, energy, and resources working on behalf of men to be taken seriously? Catherine Redfern thinks not.
Catherine Redfern // 19 September 2003
Real Men Drink Pints
Andrew Bowden goes searching for a Father's Day gift that doesn't involve socks, football, beer, DIY or Homer Simpson.
Andrew Bowden // 16 June 2003
Categories: Culture and Media, Men
Walking with Cavemen
Alex couldn't believe what she was reading in a recent issue of Cosmopolitan as they called for a return of the "caveman"
Alex // 18 May 2003
Categories: Men
Men in feminism
Few men seem interested in feminism. Lizzie Garcha asks how we can encourage more of them to realise that feminism benefits everyone.
Lizzie Garcha // 18 May 2003
25 Burning Questions
Holly Combe answers the questions men are "too embarassed to ask"
Holly Combe // 16 April 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Smug Intentions: Richard and Judy on Chivalry
Holly Combe examines the hidden motives behind the calls for a return to chivalry. When Richard and Judy joined the debate recently, did they really have anything constructive to add?
Holly Combe // 16 February 2003
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships
Get Mad
Jamie Lee Merrick gets mad mad mad after reading an anti-feminist website. Here's her furious response.
Jamie Lee Merrick // 16 October 2002
Bend Over Girls - he's in Freak Mode
Society needs to stop thinking of men as slaves to their sexual urges, argues Holly Combe. She examines the damaging common idea that, once aroused, men become an unstoppable force that it would be rude - even immoral - to try to stop.
Holly Combe // 16 September 2002
Categories: Men, Sex and Relationships, Violence
Enough with the pendulum!
There are two phrases guaranteed to make me cringe. One of them is anything involving the pendulum; you know the one that's always "swung too far the other way"?
Catherine Redfern // 16 October 2001
Reply to Nigel Planer
"Men are now in crisis... since the seventies, the pendulum has swung castratingly far in the other direction." wrote Nigel Planer in The Radio Times in June. Jen Clarke responds.
Jen Clarke // 13 July 2001
