ABSTRACT
The question of whether or not to work with men for the purposes of furthering egalitarian relations between men and women has exercised my skills since the early 1970s when I hesitantly sought to introduce feminist insights into work I was doing with a small group of men who wished to stop beating their partners (Dominelli 1981). Although I was keen to have a successful group, the effort did not live up to my expectations. Part of the problem was that I had failed to appreciate the significance of men’s socialization processes in their interaction with other men, the psychological significance of their relationships with women and children, and the impact of the broader social culture on men’s behaviour and willingness, or even ability, to change it. Lacking such knowledge, I focused instead on feminist methods and feminism’s commitment to egalitarian relations to guide my wanderings through what was unknown territory. As I charted my way around the many obstacles I encountered, my feminist friends scrutinized my efforts and constantly asked me to justify using my talents, time and energy in what they saw as an unworthy pursuit, which detracted resources and, most crucially, me from the pressing task of improving women’s lot.
