The Myth of Male Power: Why Men Are the Disposable Sex

In 1963, an anthropologist named Jules Henry wrote "Culture Against Man," which, in the words of fellow anthropologist Ashley Montagu, was "one of the most telling and creative examinations of American culture and values written in this century." In this book, where "man" was used in a generic sense (to refer to both men and women), Henry described "a culture torn by conflicting values, a national character made ambiguous by a people leading isolated, fragmented lives. ... [T]his society, so vigorously engaged in surviving physically, may also be dying emotionally."I have often wished that someone should write a sequel to Henry's book, and only recently discovered that psychologist Warren Farrell had written just such a book in 1993 (now available in a 2001 edition with an updated introduction). Entitled "The Myth of Male Power," Farrell's book shows how, in an effort to achieve equal opportunity for women, extreme feminism has torn apart major parts of our culture and created a situation in which men and women are placed in confusing and conflicting roles that lead to dangerous and often deadly consequences for the men.In example after example, Farrell shows that men, who were once believed to have a preponderance of power in our society, are now very much at risk. Of the firefighters who are killed on the job, 99 percent are men. A similar situation exists with police officers and soldiers (99.99% of the names on the Vietnam Memorial are of men). There are three times as many homeless men living on the streets by themselves as there are homeless children, adolescents and women combined. Women are significantly more likely to attend college than men, and to obtain a degree. Also, women now live seven years longer than men (whereas in 1920, the life expectancy for men was a year longer than for women)--men die earlier than women from all fifteen of the leading causes of death!Unlike many authors (who state a problem but offer no solutions), Farrell concludes his book with specific proposals for ending the "gender wars" and taking steps to improve the lots of men and women alike. His book is both comprehensive and readable, and I commend it to anyone who wants to obtain a balanced view of what has created the current state of conflict between men and women in our society, and what can be done to make things right.

Watch out for female chauvinists disguised as feminists. I certainly realize what our society puts women through, but any woman-feminist or otherwise-who can't accept that the price of male privilege has been quite high throughout history is flat out blind. I don't see feminists clamoring for the right to sign up with selective service, nor for the privilege of having their genitals surgically altered within hours of birth. They have no idea what it feels like to be male, and many don't care to learn either. Women complain that men don't discuss their feelings, but the minute a man speaks about them he's accused of being weak, homosexual, or of trying to hold women down. But don't take my word for it, just check the other reviews.Sure, there may be some inaccuracies in this book, and the comparison between an unemployed man and a raped woman is tactless to say the least. However, the underlying message is still quite valid. Perhaps Farrell is inconsiderate of women when making his arguments, but let's get real here; feminists have often been tactless and inconsiderate of men when phrasing their arguments for the last 35 years. Need proof: In a review of `The Beauty Myth' by Naomi Wolf (5/12/81, SF Chronicle), Marcia Millman comments of breast augmentation, "it's difficult to imagine men mutilating themselves to conform to some image of desirability." Excuse me, has she ever heard of circumcision? In 1981, the male circumcision rate was nearing ninety percent. I'd say it's highly inconsiderate and quite arrogant for Ms. Millman to suggest that a woman who elects a surgical procedure is being oppressed by society, while an infant male who has one forced upon him is not.I recommend that all men read this book. Should you come across any women who disrespect its message, view them in the same light as they would view a man who disrespects the message of feminism-as chauvinists.

The Myth of Male Power, by author and gender-reconciliation champion, Dr. Warren Farrell, is truly a landmark work. Over the course of the next century it will come to be seen for what it is: a bold and inexorable challenge to American society to rethink from its deepest foundations the present and past attitudes and approaches towards gender equality - an approach that has been dominated by victim feminism. The Myth of Male Power confronts the politically correct myths that undermine true equality and gender reconciliation. Given the current climate of politically correct misandry and the feminist hegemony of gender discourse, it takes tremendous courage to challenge the orthodoxy and establishment. Both Dr. Farrell and his publisher, Simon & Schuster, deserve the highest kudos for their willingness to face the fire on this one.One thing that makes The Myth of Male Power so fair-minded and authentic is that it affirms the legitimate concerns of women. Because of this, no female reader need fear that it is simply the flip side of feminism (ie: an ideology that preaches that society is actually not male-dominated and patriarchal, but female dominated and matriarchal, and that all problems are due to women with men its primary victims). This is important because it helps fair-minded men and women to see that Dr. Farrell is not seeking to replace feminism with masculism, or engage in "backlash". Indeed it demonstrates his absolute and unwavering commitment to real gender equality and fairness. At the same time, Dr. Farrell does not limit the discussion of gender to women's issues. The Myth of Male Power explains how almost all societies in general (but American society in particular) are both matriarchal and patriarchal, how men's and women's roles provide unique benefits and limitations on each gender. Both men and women may be seen to be privileged and disadvantaged, each in different ways. Of course, the focus of the book, as the title suggests, is on the male role. This is done not to slight women's issues, but rather to supplement the ever-growing body of literature and research on gender issues which tends to frame the problems from an essentially female perspective.Well researched, meticulously documented, and richly footnoted, The Myth of Male Power is sure to appeal to the intelligent reader, as well as to scholars who require the references to verify for themselves that no foul play is underfoot. Using a multi-modal approach, Dr. Farrell combines hard statistics, charts, and data tables, with cartoons, humor, and the moving personal anecdotes of individual men and women.Despite its fair-minded and rigorously documented approach, it does take courage to read the book. Male readers will no longer be able to console themselves (if ever they did) with the myth that they have all the power and privilege in society. Female readers may feel threatened by the challenge to claim their power and i

Around the time he published his most recent and to date most radical book, "The Myth of Male Power," Warren Farrell released these audiocassettes of the same title. Farrell's own recommendation of these tapes as the second step in educating the uninitiated about men's issues (the tapes of "Why Men Are the Way They Are" being the first step) is very well-taken. Information and philosophy are presented engagingly, accessibly, with little fluff or fanfare. Indeed, given Farrell's measured, reasonable voice and carefully presented, step-by-step documentation of his positions, the listener could be forgiven for momentarily failing to notice just how radical a vision of men's position these tapes present. It is only by reference to the current, twisted state of gender politics that one can even understand why Farrell's common-sense, compassionate, incisive approach is seen by some as so "dangerous."The truth is that these tapes ARE dangerous. They imperil the listener's ability ever again to believe many of the whoppers masquerading as received truths about the "patriarchy," the alleged lower moral fiber of men relative to women, men's supposedly greater power, and many other myths. Farrell reminds us that neither gender wins unless both sexes win. The tapes take the form of a dialog between the author and a male interviewer who leaves no feminist stone unturned in his scrutiny of Farrell's position. A former three-time New York City National Organization of Women board member, Farrell has no difficulty acknowledging the areas where women truly have been oppressed. But he also is not afraid to demolish some of the favored shibboleths about women's suffering. For example, when experience, job requirements, and attractiveness of jobs are taken into account, women do NOT earn less than men. With the exception of rape, the more violent a crime, the more likely a MAN is to be the victim. Female heads of households have on average 141% the level of assets owned by male heads of households. Women also control most spending. Men are not inherently violent and will curb their natural protective instincts where three basic needs--adequate food, adequate water, and safety from attack---are met. Male violence, Farrell shows, is a response to powerLESSNESS, not power.Farrell is not afraid of even the most potentially controversial issues. A detailed comparison between the position of men and blacks supports his provocative position that in many ways men are treated as slaves today. (We work longer hours, die sooner, and lose our children.) Nor is he afraid to say the emperor of feminist hypocrisy has no clothes. He notes that many women (and men) complain about men's killing while living in the countries and on the property obtained as a result of this killing. Farrell addresses some topics that are rarely discussed. He notes the invisibility of men in less valued professions such as the highly hazardous

As a TV/radio reporter and talk show host, I've not only read this book but spoken with many others who have -- as well as interviewed the author himself. Working first in southern California, then in upstate New York, I've been struck by how many people from all walks of life find Dr. Farrell's writings as helpful, enlightening and uplifting as I did. The author has a gift of speaking to both women and men, telling us things crucial to understand about one another, WITHOUT casting blame on either gender. As I've spoken with other MYTH OF MALE POWER readers in person, or listened to them respond to this author during his appearances on my talk shows, it has been my observation that women seem to delight in the tenderness and compassion with which this social scientist approaches his subject while men are simply shocked and overjoyed to see in print things they felt no one would ever speak of out loud. The only people I have seen consistently crit! ! icize this work are those with an apparent overwhelming attachment to that small twisted tangent of the women's rights movement now known as victimhood feminism. I once reported on a campus seminar led by Dr. Farrell. The audience of close to a thousand contained people of all ages and interests. Most loved what he had to say as he reviewed the highlights of his findings in this book. But a small group from the university's Women's Studies department were obviously outraged at any suggestion of historical sex roles being harmful to men as well as women. They demonstrated remarkable unwillingness to hear that males die much earlier, are far more frequent victims of violence, of workplace injury, and even of suicide than are females -- let alone any other discussion casting doubt on their dearly held conviction that only women are ever victimized. As with others I've encountered from within this clique of feminist distortionists, their only interest see! ! med in desperately searching for any small area of question! in interpretation of data, then jumping on such difference of opinion as excuse to repudiate all logical discourse. On the other hand huge gaps in the data they wanted presented were not open to discussion. Encouragingly, those women's rights activists I've interviewed who adhere to the original tenets of feminism -- as a movement dedicated to healing and equality for all -- have expressed thorough admiration for the revolutionary findings contained in this outstanding work. Of this author's two most recent books, WHY MEN ARE THE WAY THEY ARE is certainly the softer, gentler approach. THE MYTH OF MALE POWER will come as more of a shock for those steeped in the cultural convention that hurt is an exclusively female experience. But both volumes are absolute MUST reads for any rational adult human being who believes our world needs to some day be made of women and men willing to understand, appreciate, come to terms with, and love one another.