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141st out of 580 books
—
753 voters
Refusing to be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice
Since its original publication in 1989, Refusing to be a Man has been acclaimed as a classic and widely cited in gender studies literature. In 13 eloquent essays, Stoltenberg articulates the first fully argued liberation theory for men that will also liberate women. He argues that male sexual identity is entirely a political and ethical construction whose advantages grow o...more
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
June 21st 2000
by Routledge
(first published 1989)
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I picked this book up because I thought it would provide a frank assessment of the often-overlooked harm that prescribed gender roles do to boys.
Instead I found an author who not only fails to cite sources when necessary, but doesn't even acknowledge the difference between sex and gender. Throughout the book he refers to sexual identity as "socially constructed". Then, at the end, came an explanation for this unbelievable oversight when he (finally) cited the following sentence by Andrea Dworki...more
Instead I found an author who not only fails to cite sources when necessary, but doesn't even acknowledge the difference between sex and gender. Throughout the book he refers to sexual identity as "socially constructed". Then, at the end, came an explanation for this unbelievable oversight when he (finally) cited the following sentence by Andrea Dworki...more
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I'm not sure what to think about this book. I found some essays very well argued and supported with sufficient evidence, making anyone who wants to argue against them faced with a difficult task. John Stoltenberg, for instance, argues that women's rights are not respected in practice, providing plenty of evidence that U.S. courts have historically deemed porn to fall under the First Amendment even when it involves the sexual assault and rape of women.
On the other hand, however, I found some of h...more
On the other hand, however, I found some of h...more
I'm surprised this book isn't more widely read. Sure, there's a little woo factor, but it's definitely still relevant today.
looking back I really likes it at the time but now I feel like its kind of overwrought. worth another skim if not read
Absolutely hilarious. Anyone, with or without a pair, should give this totally inane screed a go at it. Stoltenberg is to men what Dan Burros was to Jews. He was also the "life mate" and personal he-bitch to Andrea Dworkin. If that does not prove that he comes from outerspace, I don't know what will. After reading this I was left with the same feeling I get from watching a really shitty stand-up comic bomb so hard on stage that it's even funnier than it would have been had his jokes gone over.
Essential reading for all humans-with-a-penis.
Although Stoltenberg's affiliation with Andrea Dworkin and his views on pornography might turn off some readers, his essays on feminism and the ways sexism and masculinity negatively impact men's lives were tremendously important to my understanding of issues of gender, sex and sexuality. While you may not agree with every piece in the book, Stoltenberg's objective -- to formulate a theory of liberation for men that will also liberate women -- is a welcome radical exploration and excavation of m...more
Excellent. In such a clearly defined masculine/feminine, male/female gender role society, this book turns those stereotypes of how men are essentially raised to act and behave completely on their heads. Stoltenberg tackles topics of the masculine man to the rape culture that exists and challenges everything that is stereotypical of what society has come to expect a man to be.
This book is should read by any men who live in the world. John has been really honest with the chosen words... great book.
Disjointed. Old ideas. Plus, his writing style pissed me off.
I first read this about 1990, in a highly politicized history department. I was coming to terms with feminist critiques of a variety of social relationships, and needed some mental fodder for juxtaposition. As I remember them, the essays in "Refusing to Be a Man" were personal and polemical, and helpful in providing a strong point of view from which I could triangulate into my own thoughts. It's worth a read if you are interested in the concept masculinity, and understand the value of a polemic...more
Jun 16, 2013
Jaire Ann
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Apr 28, 2013
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John Stoltenberg is the radical feminist author of Refusing to Be a Man: Essays on Sex and Justice (rev. edn, London and New York: UCL Press, 2000), The End of Manhood: Parables on Sex and Selfhood (rev. edn, London and New York: UCL Press, 2000), and What Makes Pornography “Sexy” ?(Minneapolis, Minnesota: Milkweed Editions, 1994). He is cofounder of Men Against Pornography (www.geocities.com/Capi...more
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