Framing men in feminism: theoretical locations, local contexts and practical passings in mens gender-conscious positionings on gender equality and feminism

This article addresses some aspects of the Man Question in feminism, by way of the analysis of mens diverse gender-conscious positionings in relation to gender, gender equality and feminism. It builds on earlier work, making use of theoretical models in feminist literature combined with the micro-sociological concept of passing. The article is primarily concerned with the theoretical and empirical complexities, contradictions and ambiguities of mens positionings, as when they are self-defined as feminists (or similar identifications) in radical or deconstructive ways. In this, Swedish interview data are used. Sweden is considered particularly interesting, with a qualified societal consensus on gender equality and a broadly positive place accorded to mens relations with feminism. The authors argue in the final section that there is a need to further dialogue between analyses of men/masculinities and the multidimensionality of feminisms, as well as a need for more empirical studies of mens different (pro) feminist positionings in order to elaborate the theoretical implications of different social contexts. The framing presented seeks to provide greater possibilities for such complex, nuanced and situated understandings of mens relation to feminism, theoretically, analytically and politically.This is an electronic version of an article published in: Linn Egeberg Holmgren and Jeff Hearn, Framing men in feminism: theoretical locations, local contexts and practical passings in men’s gender-conscious positionings on gender equality and feminism, 2009, JOURNAL OF GENDER STUDIES, (18), 4, 403-418. JOURNAL OF GENDER STUDIES is available online at informaworldTM: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09589230903260076 Copyright: Taylor and Francis http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/default.asp