Men in Feminism: A Self-Determination Perspective and Goals for the Future

• Published in: Psychology of men & masculinity Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 438 - 450
• Main Authors: Moser, Charlotte E., Siegel, Jaclyn A., Wiley, Shaun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Educational Publishing Foundation 01-10-2024
• Subjects: Feminism; Future; Gender Equality; Goals; Human; Human Males; Intrinsic Motivation; Male; Self-Determination; feminism; allyship; gender equality; feminist men; self-determination theory
• ISBN: 9781433898266; 1433898268
• ISSN: 1524-9220; 1939-151X
• DOI: 10.1037/men0000480

Men can make important contributions to gender equality, but a variety of obstacles impede their engagement with feminism. In this article, we propose a self-determination (Ryan & Deci, 2000) approach to supporting men's feminist engagement. We argue that men are more likely to engage with feminism more consistently and effectively if they internalize feminist goals and incorporate them into their sense of self, that is, if they develop autonomous motivation. We argue further that men are more likely to develop autonomous motivation if their engagement with feminism satisfies basic psychological needs for autonomy, relatedness, and competence. We suggest a variety of strategies to meet these needs, among them: framing feminism as a men's issue, considering men's viewpoints and values, portraying feminism as consistent with gender and masculine norms, encouraging positive interactions with feminist women, and presenting other feminist men as role models and mentors. According to bell hooks (1984), "sexism and sexist oppression, they can only be successfully eradicated if men are compelled to assume responsibility for transforming their consciousness and the consciousness of society as a whole" (p. 81). Our article applies the self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000) to encourage men to do so.
Public Significance Statement
Men have the potential to serve as powerful champions for feminist issues. There are various barriers to men's engagement with feminism. We propose a model, grounded in the self-determination theory, to support men's sustained feminist engagement and commitment.