This paper explores the gains and losses that might be involved in a shift to greater sex equality. It argues that in addition to practical changes, genuine equality would displace men and their needs as the unquestioned standard of humanity. Men are likely to find this deeply threatening. They could, however, benefit in the long run. Some men might, therefore, support sex equality on the grounds of self-interest as well as justice; they will, however, also experience short-term losses, and women cannot rely on their support.
References
1.
BloodP.TuttleA.LakeyG. (1995), ‘Understanding and Fighting Sexism: A Call to Men’ in AndersonM.CollinsP. (eds.), Race, Class and Gender. An Anthology, London: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
2.
BrysonV. (1992), Feminist Political Theory: An Introduction, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
3.
BrysonV. (1999), Feminist Debates: Issues of Theory and Political Practice, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
4.
BuxtonJ. (1998), Ending the Mother War. Starting the Workplace Revolution, London and Basingstoke: Macmillan.
SeidlerV. (ed.) (1991), The Achilles Heel Reader. Men, Sexual Politics and Socialism, London: Routledge.
30.
ThomasD. (1993), Not Guilty. Men: The Case for the Defence, London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson.
31.
United Nations (1995), From Nairobi to Beijing. Second Review and Appraisal of the Implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women. Report of the Secretary-general, New York: United Nations.
32.
WalkerJ. (1995), The Cost of Communication Breakdown, Newcastle upon Tyne: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Relate Centre for Family Studies.
33.
WhelehanI. (1995), Modern Feminist Thought. From Second Wave to Post-feminism, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
34.
WilkinsonH. (1997), Time Out. The Costs and Benefits of Paid Parental Leave, London: Demos.