Jackson Katz Feminist Analysis

Feminism as an ideology is a difficult concept to define because it tends to shift and changes as conditions change and as more focus is placed on one approach or another, one objective or another, and one counter-attack or another. Despite the shifting, there is one idea that has provided a steady foundation for the various major and minor waves of feminism that have taken place through history. This is the idea that there should be greater equality between the genders in the home, at work, and is social/political life and that the way to do this is by providing women with greater control over their own lives and greater flexibility to express their rights as humans. There have been at least three major waves of the feminist movement, commonly …show more content…
Although it is necessary to look more deeply into the history of the feminist movement and human psychology to understand why men need to become involved in this conversation, there is plenty of evidence that this is true. Jackson Katz’s talk on the subject is highly enlightening regarding men’s need to save face in front of other men while the need to listen to women has, historically, been significantly undermined. However, Sobut and others also warn of the dangers of men becoming involved without fully understanding the issues as it would be quite easy for men to again dominate the conversation and again get it wrong. To achieve the objectives of feminism, to provide equality to both genders in the home, workplace and social/political structures, it will be necessary for both men and women to continue to stand together against violence and discrimination. Women need to be a part of the discussions regarding what is acceptable and what is not, where violence and discrimination are taking place and in revealing their effects. Men need to take up strong roles speaking out against the institutions and cultural ideas that perpetuate discrimination and violence against women. They need to ensure society places blame and shame where it belongs - on the perpetrators of violence and discrimination rather than the victims of it and denying these perpetrators the rewards and esteem they feel they should achieve through such behavior because of earlier socialization issues and fallacies. Only then will the culture begin to shift to one of greater equality and liberty for us