(reposting a modified version of @[email protected]’s post here from several months back when the comm was initially reopened)

Please chime in with the type of content and discussion you would like to see here.

If you’re interested in helping out with posting or moderating, please actively report posts that even remotely seem rule-breaking, and/or send one of the admins a mod application if you’re interested in modding. While there is value in calling out comments and trying to teach people, leaving anything egregious up for too long could promote people blocking the comm even if they might otherwise want to see the “good” posts and/or learning opportunities.

Another question is whether this should become a local-only comm, let us know your thoughts below.

In the coming days we’ll formally announce a book club reading The Will to Change by bell hooks, and we expect that masc users will participate and engage with the material, just like with cis users in the battle against transphobia early in our history. As socialists we have a responsibility to read theory and actively work to remove our brainworms to be better comrades.

Please comment with any suggestions or concerns you have. Cheers hexbear-pride feminism

edit: please read The Gender Accelerationist Manifesto as a primer for the tone we’re going for in this comm

  • PKMKII [none/use name]@hexbear.netEnglish
    14·
    5 days ago

    One observation I’ll make is that there’s a problem I see in many attempts to create male/masculine spaces online. Often they break into one of two categories. The first, either by intent or through infiltration by bad actors, is they become redpilled/MGTOW spaces where masculinity gets defined by misplaced resentment, anger, and hatred towards women, and usually LGBT folks as well. Now this being hexbear, I don’t think there’s much danger of that happening, but throwing it out there for comparative purposes.

    The second is that they become defined by how masculine people can be better allies to women and usually LGBT folks. Now, in the abstract this is much healthier than the first. However, both fall into that problematic place of defining an identity not by what it is but what it isn’t, positively or negatively. And I think that’s a very toxic base for an identity because it makes the identity all about an Other.

    Now of course, relations with those outside of an identity are always going to impact those within the identity, so I wouldn’t expect allyship to never be discussed. But I would like to see content that helps define a positive masculinity on its own basis.

    • robot_dog_with_gun [they/them]@hexbear.netEnglish
      8·
      5 days ago

      However, both fall into that problematic place of defining an identity not by what it is but what it isn’t, positively or negatively. And I think that’s a very toxic base for an identity because it makes the identity all about an Other.

      that’s kinda how whiteness works isn’t it? and there’s a lot of male defaulting in western (and others, due to colonization and export) culture.

      i can describe hegemonic masculinity but i can’t list any traits or attributes of masculinity that aren’t tautology or toxicity, that aren’t applicable to every other gender. maybe there’s no spaces like what we want this comm to be and this comm has failed to become active like 5 different times because there can’t be such a space.

      anyway i’ll just be over here fallen through the cracks dying slowly of loneliness instead of quickly of rejection and covid