how come there is only a Women's Studies under social sciences?

Question

How come there is not a catagory for Men Studies?

Answer 1

That would encompass what has been studied for the past two thousand years. Women's experiences have been marginalized, and ignored. They have to be made visible in order to study what has traspired. Many sexist males can't conceive of this and their petty resentments and jealousy compells them to try and degrade and insult women in this forum.

Answer 2

I've already answered an almost identical question to this in the last couple of weeks. So here I go again.

In answer to your question, because the most informative studies of gender, including men and masculinity, have largely emerged out of, or been influenced by, research conducted under the rubric of women's studies and feminist theory.

The idea that you can discuss men's issues separate from women's issues is misleading. Gender is a relational identity. And, as we can see, a men's movement that is unaware of how feminism has contributed to our understanding of the construction of gender identities reproduces inequalities based on sex. A discussion of men's issues that avoid the realities of power relations in society easily degenerate into misogynist movements that defend a single, unitary and hegemonic idea of 'what it is to be a man' which ignores the social reality that most men face. There are a lot of different ways of being a man out there, and there are a lot of different kinds of men. There should be more discussions concerning men and masculinity, as long as this doesn't revert to some chest-banging defense of some mythical, macho past. Men's studies, in opposition to Women's studies, tends to be just that.

Perhaps a more neutral term like gender studies might be appropriate, to incorporate the multiple configurations of sex/gender/sexuality that make up our world, but, we must still address issues of power and inequality that feminist theory is so adept at challenging.

By the way, I am an anthropologist whose research focus is on sports and masculinity. This is now a rapidly growing field of study that can't be divorced (please pardon the pun) from women's studies.

So I don't really think we need a men's studies section, just a wider section in which all manner of gender studies can be incorporated!!

(And Yu Yevon is on the right track, inequalities among men are part of the gender order, but I would point out that the studies he is advocating have been done, and are still being done, in women's studies and in other social sciences that study gender relations in society)

Answer 3

Because people are sexist. Look at American for example. People say that "Men" have oppressed women, but in all actuality, it was "White Men" who oppressed their women. Black men, Hispanic men, Asian men, back in the early 1900's were ALL oppressed by white men.

Once black people as a whole were given freedom, they started to mimic white culture because they own culture had been ruined from slavery. And today, men of minority groups, depending on the situation, still get oppressed by society in some similar ways that women get oppressed.

These reasons are why MEN DO NEED a Men's Studies program for minorities to learn about themselves, their past, everything women learn in Women Studies. And even white men should be able to learn what their male decendants have done to women and male minorities in the past so they can be educated and understand more why many cultures are so irriated with being discrimination. But like I said, sexism prevails, and those men of minority groups continue to go unheard.

And I'll get thumbsdown from people who think that what I'm saying is stupid and that all men have it easy. I say, try walking in a black or hispanic mans shoes first before making judgements.

Answer 4

Some of the history of women's studies is more visible because of the obstacles that women endured against opression. Think about the chicano movement or the african american movements, we study them now because they have so much significance in our history.

That is not to say that men's history does not. I study women and gender studies and we dicuss men and women, but mostly women.

And there are places where you can study men's studies, such as: Akamai University http://www.akamaiuniversity.us/MensStudies.html

And there are other sources for men's studies such as http://mensstudies.com/newlook/online

If you are really concerned about this, then you should talk to your peers, academic advisors, and department representatives about starting a men's studies program at your school, or start by creating a mens studies club, its a good start.

Answer 5

You have a point. Most of history has been written by men. They found economics, sociology, psychology etc. Whenever they mentioned women, they only saw what they saw. They didn't see life through a women's perspective. Hence, we have women studies.

Answer 6

In comparison to those of women, what injustices have men suffered that would merit an entire field of study? (I would rather have this board renamed "Gender Studies," but still.)

Answer 7

Because for a long period of time women were treated unequally with men and were deprived in everything all over the world. When they were awakened women formed groups and conducted studies that would liberate them from these deprivations and inequalities.

Answer 8

because men are pretty easy... feed us... give us some.. and pass the remote.. sthu and we are good...

not even women understand women

Answer 9

Because to call it a science would be nonsense.

Answer 10

Because the most sexist of sexists, are feminists.