Male domination and patriarchy have been under challenge by feminists and=
the
women's movement in recent decades. The economic, social and political
subjection of women in Europe and elsewhere, the violence brought against=
them
and their confinement to the domestic sphere have been analysed and denou=
nced in
academic studies, solidarity networks and positive actions.
For the last 20 years or so a minority of men, though in increasing numbe=
rs,
have joined the struggle for equal opportunities between the sexes, setti=
ng up
men's groups, centres for violent men, publications and networks, and mou=
nting
actions against war and the concept of the "virile man". Their aim is to=
work
towards a non-sexist society with, and in support of, women.
But profeminist men in many European countries are still isolated by the =
lack of
any links between individual groups and this situation is holding back de=
bate,
exchanges of information and the organization of joint campaigns by women=
and
men.
This is why we want to link up the various men who, in one way or another=
,
support the struggle against patriarchy and male domination by creating a=
European network of profeminist men.
Backed by the European Community, our aims are to deconstruct the male ge=
nder,
carry out more critical analysis of the modes of male domination, try to
understand how macho, homophobic societies make us into domina-ting men, =
and
assert our desire to live in peace without violence, without war between =
men and
without oppression of women.
We affirm that men as well as women want to build a new society where gen=
der is
not the central factor discriminating between individuals, who should be =
free to
choose the life styles that suit them.
We plan to start in the autumn of this year by setting-up a resource poin=
t on
the Internet to give an outlet to existing groups, publications, studies,=
networks and the work of men already involved in antisexist work and acti=
ons. =
The database will be made available on CD-Rom in the spring of next year =
and
regularly updated. We believe an Internet site can help promote :
=2E the exchange of ideas and information and the forging of contacts tha=
t will
make a substantial contribution towards changing relations between the se=
xes in
society, focusing on the themes of violence against women, children, men,=
sexuality, men's physical and mental health, work, new maculinities, prev=
enting
the spread of HIV, paternity and male contraception ;
=2E international support for positive actions to promote equality betwe=
en women
and men ;
=2E debate at European level between men and between women and men with a=
view to
fostering initiatives that lay down new bases for relations between women=
and
men.
The network is open to all men and women, groups, networks, publications,=
etc.
who want to strive for a non-patriarchal society that rejects violence,
homophobia and any gender-based discrimination.
We will publish regular bilingual repo=7F=7Frts on the work of the networ=
k.
=7FThe Profeminist men's European network is first of all :
=2E A documentation center located in Le Mirail Toulouse University .
=2E A database of contacts and resources and a bibliography.
=2E A quaterly newsletter.
=2E A web site: http://www.menprofeminist.org
=2E A first "free and shared" CD-ROM available by summer 98.
Coordinating committee : =
Universit=E9 de Toulouse le Mirail - Equipe Simone
Daniel Welzer-Lang
Correspondence :
THE SETTING UP OF THE PROFEMINIST =
MEN'S EUROPEAN NETWORK
Les Traboules
12 rue Agathoise
F-31000 Toulouse FRANCE =
Tel: +33 (0)5 61 63 88 48
Fax: +33 (0)5 61 63 88 51
Daniel Welzer-Lang , Thierry Campanati
E.mail:dwl@cict.fr
http://www.menprofeminist.org
Partners : Site and CD-Rom management
City & Shelter 40 rue d'Espagne B-1060 Bruxelles
Belgique Tel/Fax: +32 2 534 77 35
E.mail:rmayerl@compuserve.com
http://users.skynet.be/sky37994
More about the CD-ROM and City & Shelter:
CITY & SHELTER is a non-profit organisation focusing especially on gender=
issues
(urban and housing topics, violence, micro-credits, development, appropri=
ate
technologies). We produce "free shared CD-Roms". N=B01 "City, Citizenship=
and
Gender" realised with the support of Unesco is available.
N=B02 "Setting up a European Profeminist Men's Network" actually in work =
with the
support of the European Commission, will be ready in Summer 98: see our c=
all for
submissions on our Web Site. For this specific project we are looking for=
contacts, partnership and exchange of information in Europe and abroad.
Please share this information with your networks (mailing lists, publicat=
ions,
news-letters). Thanks for helping share information and improve these too=
ls.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Roland and Daniela - City & Shelter (Brussels -Belgium)
THANKS FOR HELPING SHARE INFORMATION
AND IMPROVE THESE TOOLS!
"This project is co-subsidized by the European Commission.
The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect those of the Commis=
sion"
Thanks for helping share information and improve these tools.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Roland and Daniela - City & Shelter (Brussels -Belgium)
<city.shelter@skynet.be> at Internet