Unlocking the Iron Cage: The Men's Movement, Gender Politics, and American CultureThe mythopoetic men's movement grew quietly for ten years before Roberts Bly's bestseller Iron John brought the movement to national attention. Reactions to the movement ranged from bemused or dismissive stories appearing in Sunday supplements and magazines, to outrageous lampoons on stage, to harsh criticism by many feminists. Bly and the mythopoetic claimed in turn to be misunderstood. What is the truth about these men and their movement? Why do these middle-class white men gather at rustic camps to beat drums, dance wildly, hold sweat lodge rituals, laugh and cry, and listen to old myths and fairy tales? Based on Michael Schwalbe's three years of experience as a participant and observer at over one hundred meetings, as well as on interviews with active members, Unlocking the Iron Cage provides a revealing look at who these men are, what they do, why mythopoetic activity appeals to them, what needs it fills, where it succeeds, and where it fails. Schwalbe illuminates the theory behind the mythopoetic movement--which derives largely from Jungian psychology and the archetypal psychology of James Hillman--but for the most part he focuses on the rank-and-file participants. He finds mostly middle-class men trying to cope with the legacy of fathers who gave little emotional sustenance and with a competitive society they find unsatisfying, who sympathize with many of women's complaints about men and sexism (though Schwalbe also finds that many joined as a reaction to what they saw as feminism's blanket indictment of men), and who are searching for an alternative to the traditional image of a man as rational, tough, ambitious, and in control. Schwalbe finds much of value in the men's quest. For instance, he highlights the religious appeal of mythopoetic activity, with its emphasis on finding one's personal truth, its gentle pantheism, its use of ritual to create emotional communion--all of which give the men the wide, inclusive path to spirituality they want. And he shows how Jungian psychology helps the men to redefine their feminine traits, especially their emotionality, as aspects of "deep masculinity." But he also levels some criticisms. He shows, for example, that the myths the men embrace--myths that tend to be devoid of women, or that portray women as beautiful prizes, or as hags, or cloying mothers-- reinforce the presumptions of male superiority they claim to reject. If the mythopoetic movement seems absurd to an outsiders, it is no more ludicrous than football--with fans shirtless in freezing weather, their faces painted, screaming themselves hoarse--and it is far less damaging to men's image of women or of themselves. In Unlocking the Iron Cage, Michael Schwalbe provides an understanding, insightful account of this often-maligned grass-roots movement, revealing both its potential for harm and the genuine value it has for many people. |
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Page 82
... dance teacher to develop a dance of its own , a dance that would symbolize the spirit of the men in the clan . At the carnivale on the last night of the gathering , each clan was to share its dance with the rest of the men . One clan ...
... dance teacher to develop a dance of its own , a dance that would symbolize the spirit of the men in the clan . At the carnivale on the last night of the gathering , each clan was to share its dance with the rest of the men . One clan ...
Page 86
... dancing were regular parts of these meetings . Other ritual activities called for the men to explore and share their ... dance . On several occasions the men devoted part of the meeting time to talking about how well the group was ...
... dancing were regular parts of these meetings . Other ritual activities called for the men to explore and share their ... dance . On several occasions the men devoted part of the meeting time to talking about how well the group was ...
Page 175
... dance break , that while he disagreed with what I had said , he thought I had “ a lot of balls ” for standing up for my views . After the dance break I spoke with one of the men from the Local Group , a man whom I had already ...
... dance break , that while he disagreed with what I had said , he thought I had “ a lot of balls ” for standing up for my views . After the dance break I spoke with one of the men from the Local Group , a man whom I had already ...
Contents
AN UNUSUAL MOVEMENT OF ORDINARY MEN | 3 |
THE THEORY BEHIND THE PRACTICE | 35 |
FEELING BETTER ABOUT BEING MEN | 53 |
Copyright | |
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affirmation analysis archetypal psychology behavior believe Bly's chanting chapter claim communitas connection create culture dance discussion dominate drumming emotional emotionally experience feelings felt feminine feminism feminist criticism fuck gender politics going helped heterosexual Hillman homophobia human Ibn Arabi ideas ideological imagery inequality inner interview Iron John James Hillman Jung Jungian psychology kind king male supremacy manhood meaning meeting men's center men's lives Men's Movement men's rights Michael Meade moral identity mothers mytho mythopoetic activity mythopoetic gatherings mythopoetic men mythopoetic men's mythopoetic men's movement mythopoetic movement mythopoetic teachers myths patriarchy perspective poem princess problem profeminist profeminist men psyche psychic energies rape relationships retreat ritual Robert Bly seemed sense sexist sexual social society sociological sociologist spiritual story Sufi sweat lodge talk therapeutic individualism there's things traditional masculinity troubles trying University Press warrior woman women York