Fierce and Tender Men: Sociological Aspects of the Men's Movement

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Description

This book takes the reader on a journey through some men's land and into some men's houses. Along the way we look at whether or not there is a men's movement; what men's studies might consist of; where men have belonged in society through history; the nature of men's wounds and pain; femininity and masculinity; men's (boy's) differentiation from their mothers and their search for their fathers; and a refreshing view of men and sex, fatherhood, and work. Finally, we look at men coming together in men's support groups; amending the wrongs of their past; blessing each other in word, story, ritual, and spirit; and creating projects that forward new missions and end men's isolation from each other. Fierce and Tender Men is critical, analytical, and inspirational, drawing on current research in gender, on students' views in gender classes, and on the author's own experience and his participation in men's work over the last eight years. This book confronts, but does not scapegoat, men.

Reviews

"A compassionate, balanced book that introduces men's issues without discounting women's issues by an author who has the courage to acknowledge his own issues--a recipe for a very fine book."-Warren Farrell, Ph.D., author, The Myth of Male Power and Why Men Are the Way They Are
"Clint Jesser invites us to set aside the stereotypes and simply look at what it means to be a man. What we discover is neither wimp nor philistine but...man."-Earl Babbie, Professor of Sociology, Chapman University
"This is a very bold, and honest, and at times painful work that is certain to stir considerable controversy. It creates a space for a long overdue conversation concerning men and their many places in this contemporary world."-Norman K. Denzin, Professor of Sociology, Communications, Criticism and Interpretive Theory University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"Clinton Jesser describes this book as a journey....This is an honest, personal and caring book....[O]ne could use this book as the journey that it is--as a narrative of one man's struggle to confront and resolve issues of maleness and masculinity and the ways that they have shaped his life."-Transformations
Clinton Jesser describes this book as a journey....This is an honest, personal and caring book....[O]ne could use this book as the journey that it is--as a narrative of one man's struggle to confront and resolve issues of maleness and masculinity and the ways that they have shaped his life.-Transformations
Through scholarly analysis & personal, autobiographical experiences, this book focuses on areas of men's gendered lives, advocating the need for men's studies programs, & evaluating accomplishments of the men's movement.-International Review of Publications in Sociology
"Through scholarly analysis & personal, autobiographical experiences, this book focuses on areas of men's gendered lives, advocating the need for men's studies programs, & evaluating accomplishments of the men's movement."-International Review of Publications in Sociology

Author Bio

CLINTON J. JESSER is Professor of Sociology at Northern Illinois University where he was co-founder of the Women's Studies Program and co-founder of DeKalb's women's shelter. Dr. Jesser has been a teacher/researcher and writer in the area of sex and gender for 25 years. For the last eight years, he has participated in men's work, especially the New Warrior Network and 12-step groups.