a text by feminism on ear

The call from feminists to confront the sexism and misogyny of their cis-male comrades is old. Very old. For just as masculinity is self-sufficient, left-wing men are essentially dependent only on the approval of other left-wing men. They manage to pat each other on the back for heroic deeds, even without FLINTA*.

But it is now the case that in the left-wing scene it is more and more en vogue to position and portray oneself as critically male. The feminist pressure to give in as much as necessary, not least in order to collect praise afterwards - because those who like feminists also want to be admired by them.

It is often exactly those left-wing men who take up the cause of anti-fascism - and anti-sexism at the same time - who protect the perpetrators in their own ranks and show solidarity with them. In doing so, they themselves become perpetrators – sometimes more subtle, sometimes more openly – or cover up their own perpetration. A non-articulation of sexism in the anti-fascist left by left-wing men is for their own protection and is nice and convenient. This is a very concrete defense mechanism or different forms of defense actions. Because what they don't see so closely in others, they can at least take out for themselves. Or to put it another way: Protecting offenders can ultimately also be useful for me as a man if I should stupidly be caught in abusive behavior.

The problem with masculinity? - Sexism, misogyny, racism. All oppression and forms of domination. A so-called collateral contradiction? Rather, the source of all evil.

Meanwhile, everyday life at FLINTA* is characterized by discrimination and sexism - also in left-wing political and subcultural contexts. Addressing, demanding, working through is by no means in the interests of those who benefit from this exercise of power, but of those who are affected by it. The fact is: every anti-fascist, subcultural project in which male dominance - whether consciously or unconsciously - a. FLINTA*, space takes - be it in the plenum, on the dance floor or on the stage - reproduces exactly those power relations that we want to criticize and fight.

FLINTA* are waging a "double battle" - against the crappy system AND against male competitors. It's frustrating, tiring and disillusioned.

It hurts to keep becoming aware of one's own privileges, to have to endure criticism or contradictions in order to question or change one's own behavior patterns and in the end not even to be rewarded for all the efforts.

That poses a problem for those people who are used to receiving confirmation from outside. Masculinity depends on validity and left-wing masculinity in particular also depends on being of integrity, imagining oneself morally on the right side. However, the self-understanding of “we are on the same side of the barricade” alone does not represent a sincere confrontation with sexist role behavior and patriarchal power relations that are reproduced every day. To be the beneficiary and support of the system that we want to fight is a dilemma, a contradiction for everyone those who profit from the shitty things (they want to abolish). But treating privilege with aristocratic ignorance turns political slogans into empty lip service.
Masculinity or male identity ONLY works through devaluation of others. So if anti-fascism is not to be understood in a mere confrontation with Nazis or as a scene attitude, left-wing men cannot avoid coming to terms with their socialization. Just recognizing and theoretically critically dealing with masculinity does not mean that it is immediately implemented in everyday life. Sustainable change in binary and power-reproducing behavior can only be initiated by sincerely dealing with internalized structures and the willingness to continuously reflect: In other words, to face the criticism of the gap between aspiration and reality.

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