Exploring Men's Diversity and Challenges in Gender Equality Research

1. Men and gender equality Øystein Gullvåg Holter Øystein Gullvåg Holter

2. Introduction • Gender equality perspective • Men’s possibilities and problems • Nordic research and development • Background • Work research • Work / family studies • Gender and men’s studies • Theory development Øystein Gullvåg Holter

3. Main topics • Diversity among men • Research development • In-depth studies • Forces of change • Barriers and problems • Implications for gender analysis • Strategy development • Research development Øystein Gullvåg Holter

4. Diversity among men • Nordic ’male role’ initiative in the 1980s • The Swedish Man 1984: the ’in principle’ man • Men in Norway 1988: 1/3 ’pro’ gender equality, 1/3 ’neutral’, 1/3 ’anti’ • Diversity related to • Education, culture, work sector • Household income balance, family situation • Childhood and youth • E.g. ’protest’ masculinity / risk behavior Øystein Gullvåg Holter

5. Research development • 1990s: research networking, environment building • Nordic workshops, coordination (1999) • 100-150 student theses, 10-15 doctoral theses (Norway) • Main issue: fathering and caring • Main direction – men’s possibilities Øystein Gullvåg Holter

6. Research problems • Problems of a new and small field • Men as ’derived subjects’ • Short-term applied perspective • ’Obvious’ masculinity only? • Lack of problem area studies • Relating problems and possibilities • Integrating ’social structure’ and ’cultural embodiment’ views • Strong gender typing of men, often also in research • Example: ’men cannot be raped’ Øystein Gullvåg Holter

7. In-depth studies • Example: ”Men’s Life Connections” (Holter & Aarseth 1993) • Why do some men develop an active fathering role? • Women’s influence or pressure? • Men’s own motivations and experiences? • Strategic sample based on ”Men in Norway 1988” • In-depth interviews with men and their wives or partners Øystein Gullvåg Holter

8. Thematic method • ”Mens Life Connections” (continued) • Key themes in men’s lives • Thematisation as means to rework life connections • Cf. ’memory work’ • ”I did not really know my father” • Father absence (sometimes: presence) as point of departure • Importance of women’s support • Life quality, social competence and career benefits Øystein Gullvåg Holter

9. Discovering a trend • ”Mens Life Connections” (continued) • Study shows caring/fathering tendency • Popularity of 1993 reform confirms major trend • ’Daddy’s month’ soon used by 70 percent of eligible fathers • Almost all users see it as a right, not compulsion • Two thirds of users want 2-3 months father’s quota Øystein Gullvåg Holter

10. Forces of change • Family values linked to gender equality • Problems of ’one-dimensional’ male role • Life quality and health issues • Changing cultural and social expectations • Some trends of working life (social competence, human relations, ”EQ”) • New demands in information-based working life? Øystein Gullvåg Holter

11. Barriers and problems • Limited changes among men • ’One swallow does not make a summer’ • Many areas – little change • New Nordic report: ”Can men? Men and gender equality in working life” • ’Gender meets class’: increasing income differences and welfare state problems • Reemergence of provider model • ”Economic sprinkling system” devaluing care • Women’s ambivalence • Many problem patterns (abuse, rape, violence) are still large Øystein Gullvåg Holter

12. Working life changes • ”Down to standard” - globalization and hegemonic masculinity • Restructuring in, gender equality out? • Flexible work, home work, burnout? • ’The Norwegian Man 1998’ – materialism, ’lonely makes strong’, health concerns • Diversity and creativity trends • Equality pays – new studies • Gender segregation esp. in feminine areas hinders economic development Øystein Gullvåg Holter

13. Implications for gender analysis • Vertical discrimination reduced • Horizontal discrimination persists • Working life and economy lag behind • Support for ’dual sphere’ analyses • Gender and other inequality connected • Changing forms of discrimination • Discrimination of men overlooked Øystein Gullvåg Holter

14. Gender discrimination - a common problem • Men are not ”neutrals” • Gender is not only positive for men • Discrimination may hit men also • Breaking or ’polluting’ the gender border • Devaluation of caring, social work • Men in feminine areas – ’helpmates and amateurs’? • ’Self-oppression’ e g mortality effects • Discrimination of women and of men – related processes • Discrimination between men important for male – female relations Øystein Gullvåg Holter

15. Strategies ahead • ’Caring-based’ strategy – extend to other areas (e g work, politics, peace) • Three key elements • Connect to on-going changes and needs among men • Extend a gender equality perspective • Men’s liberation is needed also Øystein Gullvåg Holter

16. Research development • Create debate and engagement • Build research networks and groups • Young researchers, students • Cooperation between men and women • Cross-disciplinary cooperation • Basic research as well as applied research • Examples: Nordic region networks, EU networks and projects (e g CROME) • Create new perspectives • ”Men’s own voices” + feminist and gender theory = new directions of research • Extend and nuance critical theory Øystein Gullvåg Holter