Is masculism a cult? Young men get involved thinking they want to be manly?

Question

Is masculism cult just a Pavlovian response?


So many young men seem to be seduced into "masculism" because they see the word itself as "manly" or "trendy" and they think it keeps them "in" with their peers. It's like a sort of Pavlovian response in a way.

They go on to believe that masculism and anti feminism offers them a "free lunch" - special preferential treatment, privileges, and exemptions under the law but without accepting any corresponding responsibilities. And they find themselves inculcated with hate notions such as "women are pigs" or "it's ok to date rape girls".

Yours thoughts, please.

Their king is Warren Farrel.
Read about his views.
Appalling and illegal.
http://www.thelizlibrary.org/fathers/farrell.htm

Answer 1

Masculism began in the 70s either in reaction to feminism (to challenge it) or inspired by it (to challenge traditional roles - many believe male gender roles are limiting and dangerous).

There are positive groups that try to form stronger bonds with wives and children.

However, there are negative groups, too. Over 500 of them in the world. Often, they are middle-aged divorced white men. Most have suffered painful divorces and custody battles. Many have been batterers. Many went to family court -- typically, parents who go to family court cannot solve their problems themselves and need a judge to do so (that's a generalization, i know). the point being - many men who spew hateful comments about family court had to go there b/c they had problems with conflict resolution.

anyway, when these men go through bitter divorces, they may seek out support on the internet. they may find these hateful fathers rights groups & join. these particular groups do not teach positive behavior, conflict resolution, dealing with feelings of hurt or anger. instead, they act upon these feelings.

the men than take it out on the women - say vile things, attact women's services, claim women do 1/2 domestic violence, say women make false allegations, etc. etc.

in sum, they want a return to patriarchy - to control - to authority - to unearned priveleges. they rarely take accountability. instead everything is blamed on feminism or women.

these groups number over 500. they are nasty. they harm legitimate fathers rights or masculist groups. they are seduced into it b/c it plays on their feelings of anger, hurt, pain. the best way we can combat it is to help fathers while parenting.

we are all going through changing gender roles - men & women alike - and it's not easy for any of us, but we need positive solutions, coordination and harmony. [and ezekiel you are assuming gender roles (social contructs) are natural (nature vs. nurture) and not realizing how culture can affect how we define them too. ]

Answer 2

That depends upon what you mean by cult. If by cult you mean "a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies" then the answer is no. Masculism doesn't seem to incorporate religious ideals as a main part of it's ideology. If you mean "an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers" then perhaps but no more than any other political/social group including feminism. If you mean "a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc" then yes but then again a lot of groups would fit this definition. Or do you mean "a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader"? Again masculism doesn't promote a sense of religiosity and there doesn't seem to be a single leader either. The only definition that seems to fit well is "of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees". This seems to be true of the movement for now. It would help if there were links to masculist websites where everyone can easily look to see what masculists say.

"They go on to believe that masculism and anti feminism offers them a "free lunch" - special preferential treatment, privileges, and exemptions under the law but without accepting any corresponding responsibilities. And they find themselves inculcated with hate notions such as "women are pigs" or "it's ok to date rape girls"'.

I just did a cursory search on google for men's rights groups and a brief look at their websites doesn't seem to indicate this. Perhaps I didn't read deep enough but then again I've also never seen any of the self-proclaimed masculists on here promote such things openly.

"So many young men seem to be seduced into "masculism" because they see the word itself as "manly" or "trendy" and they think it keeps them "in" with their peers. It's like a sort of Pavlovian response in a way".

Perhaps or perhaps they truly feel downtrodden. No offense but from what I've seen it seems that this question could easily be turned around. Do feminists join feminism because it is "trendy" and "womenly"? Probably not. Masculism doesn't give the air of being "manly" from what I've seen. It seems that those who advocate it seem to take it pretty seriously. I don't think it is "trendy" either because it isn't really that popular yet. It could become trendy but it isn't for now.

"Their king is Warren Farrel.
Read about his views.
Appalling and illegal.
http://www.thelizlibrary.org/fathers/far..."

I've also never seen any masculist say this either. I didn't know masculism was a monarchy lol. Seriously though I only took a cursory glance at the website and I don't judge anyone based upon what others say of him. I wouldn't do that to feminist writers so I wouldn't do that to masculists. The website is another person's opinion on Warren Farrel and though I'm sure it is interesting, I would rather read Warren Farrel in his own words instead of someone else's interpretation of those words.

Answer 3

I'd never heard of it before, nor would I support it, but certainly any social movement rightly or wrongly creates a backlash of some sort; someimes it peeters out and some times it catches on.

I think feminism has become the easy scapegoat for male feelings of disempowerment, but this approach ignores economic factors. The gut-level simple emotional appeal can be far stronger than a less comforting intellectual response; a clear-cut "villain" is easier to face than something as vague and undefiable as global economics.

I can't speak about this masculinism movement, but I think for most men, what you describe in the third paragraph is not a widely held set of views (except perhaps for a small minority of men). Few men want or expect a free ride; they want to work, to have a meaningful niche in life. Many men who retire, who have no outside interests, hobbies, or projects, often die within six months. Unemployment is a particularly immasculating condition to be in; even more than loss of income/ability to pay bills. Likewise, the other things you cite would not match general male sentiment by any stretch of the imagination.

If this new masculism group subscribes to the precepts you outline, I cannot imagine their ranks will grow too much unless they soften their rhetoric.

Such a group could propser or flounder, depenging on the socio-political tides. But in concert with the growing neo-nativist sentiment, I would cautiously predict that their window to grow is or will be wide open.

Answer 4

You can call any close social group that is outside of the main stream a cult. Most people call a group that they don't like a cult. Maybe I would call masculinism or some group that call themselves masculinists a cult from the definition.

I don't think that masculism is something that young men are seduced into or scamed into. They know what they are doing and want to do it. And many of them are not young.

And people who spread lies and myths and make strawwoman arguments are Not doing it from a conditioned reflex. They are purposely doing it because they want to and think it is a way to geting what they want.

If you want to know what the masculinists are for real than you watch what they are doing and saying to you and other people and than to themselvs.

Some of them are just open women haters. And some are a little more clever and pretend to be reasonable and claim that they are just arguing for fairness and equality. And some people (both men and women..even some feminists) fall for it and are friendly with them. They find out when they see the nasty behaviour when it is shown.

None of this is from young men who got brainwashed.

I have not studied masculinists much yet but from the masculinists that I see here and from what I'm reading they look like a spoof of feminism. Actually they look like the lies about feminists. They are not very original with what they say and write and I don't think many of them can even compare to a feminist intellectual.

Answer 5

Didn't connect to the article, But I believe the same as "Sigy," I at times in my life had been hateful towards women but certain women that opined on womans rights, in the Court room , Family law is very pro-female. but only until the pain of a unfair divorce goes away.

Answer 6

I've overheard this same conversation several times, and every time whoever disagrees with the premise is simply dismissed as having been programmed to have that contrary opinion. It's a fun little game to play (easy, too!), once you learn how it's played.

Answer 7

Sounds like you've already made up your mind and are using this as a soapbox. IMHO... true masculine mentality is quiet strength mixed with humility and compassion. Anyone can kick *** or "act" like someone in a movie.. but to know yourself, and have confidence (not arrogance) is my view of strength.

Answer 8

No. "Masculism" is not a cult. But the forced feminization of young men by the politically-correct educational infrastructure is definitely one.

The onset of hormones in puberty brings about changes in youngsters which, if left to themselves, naturally moves them toward distinct expressions of masculinity and femininity. Most mammals experience similar changes for similar reasons; we seem to be the only species who has decided that this natural process is somehow "wrong"...

Your question shifts from "wanting to be manly" to an expectation of special privilege and the denigration of women, though -- as if they're somehow connected. The former is natural, and it's not connected at all to the latter. What you call masculism is just a male expression of the same dynamic some men see in feminism, which teaches that "all men are sexual predators and abusers" and "all violence and evil in the world is the result of men." Both of these 'isms' are patently invalid and worthy of a cynical response.

Answer 9

Too early to say that isn't it, Deirdre. But it is definitely the case with feminism.

Not many young men know about masculism. However most if not all have heard of feminism.

That's not to say it might become a problem in the future when masculism becomes better known.

Masculism now seems to be at the stage of the suffragette movement early 20th century where it was a more noble ideal. Where the injustices were more self evident. No need to quote false statistics.

Perhaps we should be called suffra-gents.

Answer 10

I believe that there has been such a reversal of roles that neither gender is comfortable anymore with who they are - So what do we get --- extremes, like feminism- and masculinity

I have seen women treat men like dirt in an attempt to stay wearing the pants and being a real woman --- just haveI have seen men treat women like dirt because they think they can, or because the women allow it--- or because he is cruel

We all need to go back to the Biblical definitions and try to live by those....

Answer 11

Yes masculism is a cult run by misogynists.