The Generalized Uber-Masculine Backlash

Today I will be talking about something I have been noticing in regards to the Men's Movement and antifeminism. The US Men's Movement in particular is a small one. We do not have a "Fathers 4 Justice" like the UK, we never had the Blackshirts like the Aussies did (and perhaps still do), and we do not have protests upon protests like they do in New Zealand. Simply put, the average Joe wouldn't recognize that a Men's Movement existed in the US, as noted by the many young men I've talked to. Yet, at the same time, I've seen many, many men crack a smile, and have even seen the faces of a few light up, whent hey find out there are actual organizations out there who are fighting feminists. They are glad to hear it. On American television there is even a "Man show" to poke fun at Oprah, and a number of web sites meant to poke fun at feminists. So the attitude of a men's movement exists in the US, but there is no actual organization, and no visible movement on the streets.

Instead, we see a mish mash of events take place. Major internet personalities such as Maddox the Pirate have written articles and even books about manliness, men as individuals are holding manliness parties (usually involving a series of Chuck Norris films), and movies like "Jackass" are becoming very popular. In other words, pro-male and anti-feminist sentiment are very much present in countries like the US, even though no one is saying it vocally. I call this sentiment the "Generalized Uber-Masculine Backlash," (GUMB, pronounced 'gumby') and will explain just what it is and where it came from.

First, consider the fact that feminism has effectively erased masculinity from American culture. In many ways, which have been explained exhaustively by Men's Rights Activists like Angry Harry, masculinity has been marginalized and demonized, and now has very little effect in mainstream culture. However, masculinity is inherent in all men to some degree, and when it is erased, men begin to look for it.

Now, look at the current generation of men in their 20's. Some call it generation Y, I call it the Nameless generation, as many names have been given to it while none stick, but the name is unimportant.

Men this age grew up during the peak years of feminism. We know, arguably, the least about what it means to be a man. However, we also know that something is missing in terms of maleness, and we are trying to find it. Since it is scarce, some go so far as to worship masculine icons. An example would be, say, the large male following of the rapper Eminem, whose violent lyrics made him a hero in the eyes of many young men. Men have been looking into other things, though they don't talk about it in terms of "I have no understanding of masculinity and must learn about it." Instead, men will simply find themselves identifying with certain role models and icons, even though they can't explain it. This is the source of the GUMB.

If you look at the GUMB now, you will see a few particular patterns. First, you will see men seeking after manliness and holding "manly" icons in high esteem. Many also hold negative sentiment toward anyone or anything in power, and nearly worship anyone who creates controversy while arrogantly laughing at people who try to stop them. The question, therefore, is what will the GUMB bring about?

In the 1960s, we saw a large counterculture that completely changed the nature of the United States. The GUMB may be another such counterculture, which will change the American people once again. The main question, of course, is what that change will be. It will depend on a number of important factors:

1) Who will be leading and/or influencing the GUMB most.
2) How the established culture responds to the GUMB.
3) How much power the established culture has versus the GUMB.
4) The sum total of the beliefs and mores of the men who comprise the GUMB.

As a man going his own way, you should do all you can to both learn what masculinity really is, and to pass this knowledge on to other men, especially young men. Young men comprise the GUMB, and in time it will grow in terms of power. If the right people influence these young men, then they might make a number of good changes as they become a dominant power. Otherwise, they might form into what the MRA Richard Ford terms as the "ghost nations," and instead destroy everything in their path, or at least permit society to rot whist not caring.

To say it again, the GUMB is like a sleeping giant, and when it wakes, and decides on a course of action, it will almost certainly accomplish what it sets out to do. The question will be a matter of what it decides to do, and when.


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