For my project I am going to be investigating a topic that is very relevant to me and has been a question of mine since deciding to declare Women's Studies (here, adding the categories of Gender and Sexuality as well, since all seem to be intertwined) as my additional major. What place do men have in feminism/Feminism? Are men just "allies" to a movement or is the male feminist, the male activist feminist, and the Male Feminist equal players in their own right. How do these men, in particular white males of privilege, recognize their privilege power and do they attempt to rid themselves of this power, or "use it to an advantage" to try to "establish equality through the use of their privilege." If it is the latter, is such support even wanted?
Looking at the the history of male involvement in feminism in the early period (1920-1960s), then male involvement from the 1970s-1990s will be the start of my paper, trying to answer some of the questions outlined above. I'll then move into the male counter-feminism movements and also female feminists "against male involvement." I'd like to then conclude by looking at male feminist groups formed from 1990-2009, including campus groups, such as those formed by my friends in Duluth and end by tying everything together by "looking into the future" of the role of men in feminism, and determining in the future how gender roles will change. Somehow I'd like to tie the GLBTQ movement into this, but am unsure at this point how to go about doing so.
I intend to read about 5 books, by various female and male feminists who analyze quite thoroughly the roles men play in feminism overall. My goal is also to find early journals, diaries, or feminist publications and to search through them for references to men, and to power. I'm also going to reference active blogs and journals, interview two men in Duluth: one who formed a campus group and another who is the director of the Safe Haven Women's Shelter, and also try to interview Women's Studies and GWSS professors and ask about what role they think men have, and what they think of the field of "Men's Studies." The final product will be a 25-page research paper, but perhaps a 20 page paper with a 5-10 minute video.
Wow! This is a very ambitious project. I like how you want to aim to provide a historical background/context for the role of men within feminist movements but really want to caution you on over-extending your project beyond accomplishability. It might be difficult to find any substantial research documenting those exact issues. Also I want to caution you on thinking of the feminist movement as monolithic, remember it was/is made up of many different parts and during the second wave women of color feminists broke away from the "mainstream" white movement often because the white feminist movement was calling for a total rejection of men and women of color (because of their identities and ties to their communities) often did not want do this. Also, lesbian separatist feminists wanted NOTHING to do with men at all so their presence in their efforts would have not been welcome.
What I think is more manageable is looking at the research that has emerged reflecting on the role of men in feminism and you coming up with your own analysis based on these texts. I like how you want to interview men that are doing this type of work and I think that's a valuable perspective but I would also love to see you interview the woman you referred to (in a previous conversation) who did not like men's involvement in the movements that she's engaging in. I think it would be interesting to keep it localized to those efforts in Duluth and Minneapolis - if you could go talk to the Women's Student Activist Collective (WSAC) http://wsac-umn.org/ they have an office over in Coffman Union or other feminist groups around town. They also do a lot of work with the transgendered community on campus which might be a great tie into the LGBTQ movement somehow. We can brainstorm in class together to see if there are other organizations/groups around town to gauge what the male participation is like and to identify any men in those groups who could provide you some feedback on these questions of men and power.
I also thought this book might provide you with some good background, it's a relatively recent book on Masculinity and Feminist Theory. http://www.amazon.com/Masculinity-Studies-Feminist-Theory-Gardiner/dp/0231122799/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265381052&sr=1-2 If the library doesn't have a copy I have one and could lend it to you.
I have the same reaction: Wow! This sounds like such a great direction for a project for you because you obviously have a lot of passion and curiosity surrounding mens' involvement in feminism. Although there are a lot of sections you would like to explore, I agree with Kandace says you may want to narrow it down to be manageable. One area that I would be interested in is why YOU feel it is important for men to be involved and infact BE feminists. Why is this important to you? I know this is a research paper, but your personal insight and experiences would be very interesting to add to your argument.
I am very interested in the video part that you mentioned. Although it would be more work, this would be a great addition to a paper. I would be careful to provide a productive introduciton with a historical and personal context before presenting the interviews (if that was what you were planning to film). You could also use this to spread knowledge about something that is so important to you. I am really excited to read/see what you come up with! Good luck!
It might be interesting to focus on what men's involvement in feminism has become. I think that the profound influence on Feminist Theory that Michel Foucault's work has has on feminist theory is really interesting. He has facilitated a reimainging of power, and how it is constructed. Foucault would also be a great place to start investigating your question of the relationship between male feminists and queer activism, which I believe is a very strong and significant connection.