The Persistence of Global Masculinism : Discourse, Gender and Neo-Colonial Re-Articulations of Violence

'Surrounded as we are by a masculinized populism that continues to enable insecurity, violence, and oppression, this book demonstrates the depth and breadth of the lineages that facilitate these masculinist practices.' - Brent J. Steele, University of Utah, USA 'This book shows how reactionary movements systematically mobilize masculine resentment, and how that links up with broader structures of patriarchy, white supremacy, and colonialism. It is essential for scholars, writers and journalists seeking to fully understand antifeminism as a political and ideological force.' - Jason Wilson, Columnist and Journalist at The Guardian This book examines whether we are witnessing the resilience, persistence and adaptation of masculinist discourses and practices at both domestic and international levels in the contemporary global context. Beginning with an innovative conceptualisation of masculinism, the book draws on interdisciplinary work to analyse its contours and practices across four case studies. From the anti-feminist backlash that can be found in various men's rights movements, and responses to gender-based and sexual violence, to the masculinist underpinnings of human rights discourse, and modes of intervention to protect, including drone warfare. This interdisciplinary work will appeal to students and scholars of gender studies, security and international relations, and sociology. Lucy Nicholas is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Swinburne University, Australia. Christine Agius is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Swinburne University, Australia. Acknowledgments 5 Abbreviations 7 Contents 6 Chapter 1: Introduction 9 Masculinism as Logic or Ethos, not Identity 15 The Masculinist Voice: Universalism, Reason, Neutrality and Subordination 19 Epistemology and Approach: Power, Discourse, Harm, Protection and Violence 24 Case Studies 26 Bibliography 31 Chapter 2: #Notallmen, #Menenism, Manospheres and Unsafe Spaces: Overt and Subtle Masculinism in Anti-“PC” Discourse 38 Men’s Rights, the Alt-Right and ‘Populist Correctness’ 40 Masculinist Ontologies: Essence, Binaries, Individualism, Equality and Choice 44 Essence and Hierarchy 45 Equalism, Choice, Gender Neutrality and “Reverse Discrimination” 50 ‘Reals Before Feels’ in Online Antagonism 54 Men’s Feels Before Women’s Reals: Reverse Feminism, ‘Stuckedness’ and Affective Masculinism 57 Conclusion 60 Bibliography 61 Chapter 3: Real Victims, Real Men, Real Feminists, Real Sluts. The Persistent Masculinist Collapse of Gender-based Violence Discourses 67 Backlashes and Regression: Victim Blaming, MRAs and Populist ‘Commonsense’ 69 Men-centred Perspectives and Masculinist Recuperation 72 Individualising 74 Protectionism 75 Strategic Efficacy? 78 Contemporary Feminist Consciousness Raising Approaches to VAW: False Antitheses 79 Critiques of SlutWalk 81 Femen and the Danger of Feminist Protectionism 86 Conclusion: Beyond either ‘the Critique or the Clit’ 88 Bibliography 89 Chapter 4: Muscular Humanitarian Intervention 94 Human Rights, Humanitarianism, and ‘Saving Distant Others’: The Rise of Protectionist Discourses 95 The Politics of Protection: Co-opting Feminism and Gendering Order 100 Protection and Sovereignty 104 Co-opting Feminism for Military Intervention 107 The Resurgence of Masculinism? Violence, Order and Power in the International System Level 109 Bibliography 113 Chapter 5: Drones and the Politics of Protection 120 The Drone Programme: Binary Discourses, Technology and Ordering 122 The Masculinism of Technological Imperative 125 Sovereignty, Drones, and Neo-colonial Ordering 127 Queen Bees9 and Cubicle Warriors: The Inherent Masculinism of Drone Piloting 130 Conclusion 136 Bibliography 140 Chapter 6: Conclusion 146 Wonder Woman and Fearless Girl: Concluding the Dynamics of Masculinism 146 Masculinism 148 Thinking Beyond Masculinism 151 Bibliography 154 Bibliography 157 Index 188 Annotation This text examines whether we are witnessing the resilience, persistence and adaptation of masculinist discourses and practices at both domestic and international levels in the contemporary global context. Beginning with an innovative conceptualisation of masculinism, the book draws on interdisciplinary work to analyse its contours and practices across four case studies. From the anti-feminist backlash that can be found in various men's rights movements, and responses to gender-based and sexual violence, to the masculinist underpinnings of human rights discourse, and modes of intervention to protect, including drone warfare. This interdisciplinary work will appeal to students and scholars of gender studies, security and international relations, and sociology Front Matter ....Pages i-x Introduction (Lucy Nicholas, Christine Agius)....Pages 1-29 #Notallmen, #Menenism, Manospheres and Unsafe Spaces: Overt and Subtle Masculinism in Anti-“PC” Discourse (Lucy Nicholas, Christine Agius)....Pages 31-59 Real Victims, Real Men, Real Feminists, Real Sluts. The Persistent Masculinist Collapse of Gender-based Violence Discourses (Lucy Nicholas, Christine Agius)....Pages 61-87 Muscular Humanitarian Intervention (Lucy Nicholas, Christine Agius)....Pages 89-114 Drones and the Politics of Protection (Lucy Nicholas, Christine Agius)....Pages 115-140 Conclusion (Lucy Nicholas, Christine Agius)....Pages 141-151 Back Matter ....Pages 153-189