UAF Guest Speaker on Masculinity Says All Men Harmed by Homophobia

by E. Ross

What does it mean to be a man?

Dr. Michael Kimmel, sociologist, author and lecturer, will bring that question and his thoughts on masculinity to Fairbanks as part of the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Summer Session program.

Kimmel is a speaker for the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS), a network that focuses on three different aspects of feminist work for men. One is the anti-violence movement, offering public education about violence against women, and interacting with men convicted of violent crimes against women. Another promotes fatherhood issues and education.

The third topic is particularly important in terms of the social pressures men face: Homophobia.

"One of the things that hold men back from living this emotionally rewarding and impacting life available to them is homophobia. The fear of being marked as gay or connected to homosexuality is one of the most constraining elements in men's lives," Kimmel said.

He gave an example, asking how many seats two men would use if they went together to the movies. The answer: usually three or four. If two female friends go to the movies together, they use only two seats, unafraid to sit next to each other.

"That is what homophobia does. It distorts life," he said.

During his discussion of masculinity in Fairbanks, Kimmel will focus mostly on relationships between men and women. He will encourage his audience to think about the costs of maintaining certain beliefs about masculinity "that we've been brought up with" — that it is not acceptable for a man to show emotion, that men should be domineering, that men and women are not equal — and the benefits of restructuring those beliefs.

"You can live a happier, more robust life by not fighting women's equality but embracing it," he said.

"Mars and Venus or Planet Earth: Men and Women in a New Millennium," will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday June 24 at the Davis Concert Hall. The event is free to the public.