Men's Rights, Gender, and Social Media - by Christa Hodapp (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book integrates insights from philosophy, gender studies, political theory, and media studies to present an in depth analysis of masculinity politics in contemporary U.S. culture. While primarily a philosophical work, it also creates a discussion committed to feminist the...

Book Synopsis

This book integrates insights from philosophy, gender studies, political theory, and media studies to present an in depth analysis of masculinity politics in contemporary U.S. culture. While primarily a philosophical work, it also creates a discussion committed to feminist theory and progressive gender politics.

Review Quotes

It is rare to find a text that combines attention to pop culture and politics with a well researched theoretical analysis informed by philosophy. Men's Rights, Gender, and Social Media succeeds in this task brilliantly. The Men's Rights Movement has a strong online presence and a standpoint on a variety of political issues, and Hodapp's analysis shows a keen engagement with social media, pop culture, and social theory that will benefit students in a variety of academic fields as well as anyone who wants to understand the current political landscape.

The text examines the relationship between the contemporary men's rights movement (MRM), feminism, and social media. It highlights the discourses, mission, and tactics that this online group mobilizes to critique and resist feminism and gender progressive agendas. Specifically, Hodapp (Univ. of Massachusetts Lowell) demonstrates how the movement is fueled by the 21st-century masculinity crisis, problematic themes of second-wave feminism, and the nature of digital media, which is unembodied and anonymous. While explicitly critical of the MRM and candid in her presentation of the problematic nature of the movement, Hodapp is not dismissive of the group; rather, she forces us to confront and interrogate the underlying tenets of the movement and reflect on feminist ideals that are not progressive. The text also highlights the potential and problematic movements that use social media as their vehicle.... [I]ts useful analysis is grounded in interdisciplinary theories of gender, corporeality and performativity, social movements, and digital humanities. In addition, the writing is very accessible and does not rely on jargon, making the text a good choice for undergraduate students. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.

About the Author

Christa Hodapp is senior lecturer in philosophy at University of Massachusetts Lowell.