✿ NEW MASCULINITIES
New Masculinities Group has been meeting monthly since January 2017, encouraging men in Portland, OR to critically examine gender, sexuality, and masculinity, through an intersectional feminist perspective. Though our meetings were initially exclusive to those identifying as men, we've always attempted to base our readings and conversations on the most pressing issues affecting the people in our lives, while simultaneously learning to explore our own experience as men in a patriarchal world. It is our goal to create a space that is vulnerable and safe enough to allow men to engage in the intimate and honest conversations we are rarely encouraged to have, yet still challenges us to confront our complicity in oppressive structures and behaviors.
As of late 2018, we also invite women and nonbinary folks to join the conversation, in order to discuss the changes are needed from the men in our communities, and do so openly in a vulnerable face-to-face setting. This allows us to expand our perspectives and balance the insularity of the men’s meetings. It also allows for inclusive, nuanced conversations about the ways patriarchy harms every one of us. We encourage all who attend to make sure their feminism is inclusive and intersectional, recognizing that all struggles against oppression are interconnected. In the group and elsewhere in our lives, we attempt to live with humility, accountability, and a will to change.
Outside of the gendered limitations for the Men’s Meetings, there are absolutely no restrictions on who is welcome to attend. However, we recognize that New Masculinities is intended as an accountability group for oppressors and folks of privileged identities. The readings and discussions, as well as meeting attendance, tend to skew towards straightness and whiteness.
We always welcome criticism to the group’s structures and practices, as well as suggestions for our reading list. New Masculinities Group is merely one among countless methods for challenging white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.
