Feminism, Masculinity, and You: A qualitative study of self-described feminist men's understanding of the relationship between their feminism and their masculinity

Sammanfattning

Drawing on 8 semi-structured interviews, this thesis explores how self-described feminist men in Sweden negotiate the interplay between their positions as men and feminists, as well as how this process is facilitated and challenged by broader cultural discourses of masculinity and feminism. Specifically, thorough attention is given to the "uniqueness" of the Swedish case, as discourses that situate Sweden as a progressive utopia coincide with contemporary anti-genderist movements that highlight men as victims of feminism. Through the use of the theoretical frameworks of hegemonic masculinity, hybrid masculinity, and symbolic boundary-work, the thesis contextualises the relational nature of gender-identities and the meaning-making processes that the interviewees engaged in regarding their understanding of a masculine and feminist self. The findings of the thesis show that the men engaged in a multifaceted process of negotiating the interplay between their positions as men and feminists that entailed both an acknowledgement of an outsider status within the feminist movement and a strong belief that they are nonetheless needed for change to occur. In practice, the men believed that their unique role within feminism necessitated a deeper commitment to change in their private lives, and that they could challenge detrimental masculine gender roles through a self-reflexive reformation of themselves. However, the line between transforming or reproducing systems of oppression was delicate, and their beliefs at times led to contradictory consequences. Additionally, by paralleling arguments of anti-genderist movements, some of the men stressed that certain radical tendencies within feminism may have an adverse effect on men's lives. Ultimately, such opinions could have negative repercussions regarding men's support for feminism in the future.