Transforming Men: Changing Patterns of Dependency and Dominance in Gender Relations

314 Pages·1998·15.821 MB·English

by  Geoff Dench

Sociology
Gender Studies
TRANSFORMING MEN
Changing Patterns of
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Relations
Geoff Dench
Using the story The Frog Prince as a
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potential marginality of men in soci-
ety, Transforming Men proposes that
much of patriarchy is a theatrical illu-
sion. Presenting men as more impor-
e-Vovm-veleMolonnvalul l maet-temaelnmucclihia-tas
should be seen as a way of controlling
them, rather than as a system for~
dominating women. The author be-
lieves that both men and women need
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on them.
Dench states that women acquire
a sense of responsibility through the
direct dependence of children, but
most men can only come to experience
responsibility via women. If women re-
ject the male breadwinning role, then
men will never develop the altruistic
incentive. Dench urges that men need
to be given a greater stake than women
in the public realm in order to be the
main family providers and become car-
ing members of society. Dispensing
with male privileges and formal posi-
tions, the author continues, will sim-
ply reveal and revive older and deeper
problems, to which patriarchy itself
was a historical and sociological solu-
16( 050
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ity that if men did behave as feminists
have asked or expected, then certainly
we would be living in a far better world.
However, he asserts that it is too simple
to just blame men for the fact that this
has not -happened; perhaps the real
failure lies in feminist approaches and
theories. Thus, Dench persuasively
argues that feminism may be making
the male problem worse, 1iot better by
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parity to role reversal.
- (Continued on back flap)
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TRANSFORMING MEN
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44 ;
F i :
Social Policy and Social Theory Series
David Marsland, Series Editor
Transforming Men, Geoff Dench
TRANSFORMING MEN
Changing Patterns of Dependency and
Dominance in Gender Relations
Geoff Dench
Transaction Publishers
New Brunswick (U.S.A.) and London (U.K.)
Copyright © 1996 by Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, New Jersey
08903.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conven-
tions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any
information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing
from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Transaction Publishers,
Rutgers—The State University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903.
This book is printed on acid-free paper that meets the American National Stan-
dard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Library of Congress Catalog Number: 95-31409
ISBN: 1-56000-232-8
Printed in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dench, Geoff.
Transforming men : changing patterns of dependency and dominance
in gender relations /G eoff Dench.
p. cm. — (Social policy and social theory series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-56000-232-8 (cloth)
1. Men. 2. Man-woman relationships. 3. Sex role. 4. Dependency
(Psychology) 5. Patriarchy. 6. Feminist theory. I. Title. II. Series
HQ1090.D45 1995
305.31—dc20 95-31409
CIP