Marc (aka Feminist Dad) posted a comment here the other day in response to my Skirt essay which I’d like to share, cuz I’m going to be writing/thinking a lot about this topic over the next few months for a project I’m working on, and cuz I think his comment is really interesting. Writes Marc:

It’s funny, I have been that sole guy in the audience several times, but I usually don’t think to ask this question [the question being the one I mention in my Skirt piece, “what does contemporary feminism have to say to a new generation of men?” – GWP]. Before I was a Dad, I thought there was a new generation of transformed men. Now that I stay at home part time with my daughter, I have entered a decidedly Mom’s World. I now think the public role for men has shifted to make them *appear* more sensitive. Take for example, the Baby Bjorn. Usually men wear them – at least in pictures – it’s their public role of baby carrying. Does this translate to more time spent at home doing housework or child care? I don’t think so, and as you say in your article, the research doesn’t support it. We seem to have a new generation of men, but one where public and symbolic caring is the norm. Finally, feminism should have nothing to say *to* the men. If men are feminists, then what practices can they offer to support their sentiment?

(Thank you, Marc!)

I found it interesting that on the Baby Bjorn site’s homepage, it’s a dad wearing the bjorn 🙂 Public and symbolic caring and carrying? Or emblem of transforming roles?