It Might Not Be Removed When Washed but Conversation Might Transform It: Masculinity

Some uses the word “masculinity” almost like a swearword; some uses it as a means of glorifying. Masculinity divides our world. How could we live without it? “First, we should make it something talkable”, says the Initiative for Critical Studies of Masculinities. We interviewed with the members of Initiative for Critical Studies of Masculinities, which […]

Some uses the word “masculinity” almost like a swearword; some uses it as a means of glorifying. Masculinity divides our world. How could we live without it? “First, we should make it something talkable”, says the Initiative for Critical Studies of Masculinities. We interviewed with the members of Initiative for Critical Studies of Masculinities, which was founded in 2013 in İzmir.

What is the Initiative for Critical Studies of Masculinities? Who are its members, what does it do?

In 2013, we met with academicians and activists working in the field of critical masculinity in İzmir and talked about what was needed in Turkey and what we could do about it. Initiative for Critical Studies of Masculinities was born out of this meeting. It is a working group which rejects hierarchy in itself. The members are people working in the fields of sociology, media studies, literature, psychology, philosophy, political sciences and queer activism.

With this team, we held the 1st International Symposium on Men and Masculinities; we organized workshops in Ankara, İzmir, İstanbul and Trabzon; we were invited to talk in many different events; we urged many postgraduates to study in this field and supported researchers. We publish an academic journal called “Masculinities: A Journal of Identity and Culture”. It is unique in its field and also internationally accepted.

Do you have a solution for “mascunility”? What is it?

Each member of this initiative sees gender roles beyond male and female duality, as a diversity of identities. We believe that it is a fundamental right for people having different sexual identities to express themselves equally. That’s why; we don’t have a short-cut solution. We should make it something talkable first.

Are you open to outside participation? How can anyone reach you?

Our activities are open to public. Everyone can reach us via our e-mail: masculinitiesjournal@gmail.com