[mjs6600]

I think the name “feminism” and the lack of material available explaining feminism with out bias are parts of why men are not as active in feminist activism. In high school there was little information about gender equality. If I wanted to learn something I had to look it up myself. One of my teachers refused to talk about birth control and how it played a part in suffrage even though it is a fact of history that women want sexual freedom. When these facts are snuffed out everyone loses. Another factor is definitely the patriarchal system that our society has and the strict view of masculinity that is imposed on men. Supporting women can seem like a man is against his own gender and other take that idea defensively. Overall it’s a hard issue, it’s complicated, but correct and honest education that isn’t a single story would be a wonderful start!

[mjs6600]

I definitely think that men can make feminist art because men can be feminists. My favorite definition of feminism is from bell hooks, “Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” This definition to me means that anyone, any age, and background can be a feminist as long as they strive to end sexism. In class we went to see Birth of the Painted World Jivya Mashe and the Warli Tradition of India which work depicts a female goddess and the work was originally done by all women. Jivya Mashe was the first man to paint in the Warli Tradition and he has so much respect for the goddess that he does not paint the symbols and has the women artist paint her. While this is the only example that I know of now I know that there are men with great perspective that have created feminist art. This question is prompting me to find more artists, I hope it inspires you to look too.

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