Are Mythopoetic Men's Support Groups Repackaged Patriarchy?

Edward Read Barton

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DOI: 10.2190/SH.4.1-2.h

Abstract

As a patriarchal society, the United States, along with much of the rest of the world, has established the male in a dominant role, with men socially conditioned to be providers, in control, and always to remain strong and manly. As a result of these socially constructed definitions of manhood, men have historically had to suppress their more tender feelings, leading sometimes to emotional isolation, alienation from their true feelings, and a feeling of powerlessness. Today men are finding the attributes of hegemonic, patriarchal masculinity untenable. Accordingly, men have begun to realize that they can take responsibility for their situations and change their lives if they so desire. Part of that change involves re-visioning, re-creating, and reconstructing healthier and less conflicted forms of masculine identity by making intentional choices to move out of the power and control cycle. As effective social remedies have been sought to help "men in crisis" (aside from therapeutic solutions), a highly, and increasingly successful intervention has proved to be participation in both self-help and mutual support groups. Mythopoetic men's peer mutual support groups are one setting where these reconstructions of masculine identity are occurring. This study focuses on the value of the mythopoetic branch of the contemporary men's movement as a rejection of patriarchal values, patriarchal masculinity, rather than just being another form of "repackaged" patriarchy.

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