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The Man Who Knew Too Much
Robert W. Connell is the premier authority in the world on masculinities. A native of Australia, his books have been ranked first, fourth, fifth and sixth of the top ten books considered to have a profound impact on sociological theory in that country.Connell's influence has reached global proportions, making his work required reading in men's studies programs internationally, earning him iconic status and widespread esteem. He is to men's studies what Darwin was to the study of evolution. And now, he is a she. Though the timing of the transformation is uncertain, Robert Connell showed up at a 2008 Wake Forrest College meeting of the American Men's Studies Association (AMSA) as Raewyn Connell, a legally recognized female incarnation of the formerly male scholar. At the core of the controversy is how male studies, the new discipline, differs from men's studies, the long standing offshoot of women's studies that remains faithful to, and guided by, feminist ideology. And as the differences between the two are examined, the significance of Connell's sex change becomes all the more apparent. Male studies, according to their FAQ, is [I]ndependent scholarship without ideological ties to men's studies, which emerged within gender studies to compliment women's studies.' This signals a break from feminist influence, and is likely what is fueling the debate. Objection to male studies, which often borders on outrage, has come from university blogs, some of which are painting male studies as a dangerous endeavor. The University of Connecticut website proclaimed that male studies would lead to more gender trouble,' though their argument was significantly weakened by continuously conflating men's studies with male studies, actually appearing not to know the difference. Academicians invested in men's studies have begun to speak out against the new discipline, as we have seen recently from AMSA President Robert Heasley, who told Forbes Magazine that male studies was a redundancy. Their argument is that they are inventing something that I think already exists.' Ahem, it appears they are confused about their sexuality. Posted by: Anonymoose 2010-04-23 |
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