was discussing this with a friend of mine (she’s an anarchist but she actually organizes and shit). she was saying there can be no such thing as revolutionary masculinity because the two things are contradictory. but i’m a marxist so contradictions really butter my bread.
i think in a utopian, communist world gender identity would be completely different, to the point where it might not even be legible to us today, but my question is more about how we get from here to there. basically, can we men find a way to not be shitheads in such a way as to bring about communism, or does that not even make sense
feel free to dunk on me if this is a dumb question
Death to America
This is the most correct answer and it especially rings true in more traditional communities such as those in the global south. We have guerrilla fighters, athletes, musicians, and politicians that are leftists who also happen to be role models for a lot of the young boys growing up. It’s a battlefield where they either lean towards us or the fascists.
The American left (and I’m going to guess much of the European left) lacks this. The 20th Century has ended and so have all the great leftist heroes like Tupac and Muhammad Ali. Colin Kaepernick is the closest thing to a Muhammad Ali but he isn’t quite the phenomenon that Ali was with his boxing achievements. A lot of this has to do with younger generations growing up with the Red Scare in their societies.
Hasan Piker is a step in the right direction and was probably most effective when he was known as the cool-talking hot guy who effortlessly picked up women. He’s not that as much nowadays, though the rumors of him dating Valkyrae would probably draw more men who want to know “how did he get her?” You have to start somewhere and being dogmatic about it will push people away and create pockets of resistance, or worse, draw them to the open arms of the fascists.
It’s a big reason why I think promoting gym and fitness culture is important. Attacking it as “Fascist” to a less political crowd that you could have more easily won over will then turn to the far-right. Anybody who argues “B-B-But guns!” Has never been in a fight and doesn’t realize how much physical strength can make a difference even with guns involved.
Right?
I hate to say it but that’s what these teen boys are looking for when they find these guys, and that’s what the left needs an answer to. I know it sounds ridiculous to everyone that opposes patriarchy and so on, and I do to, but an imperfect solution is better than no solution.
The question is how to go about constructing these role models, actionable steps. There must be existing sports people who are already hidden or low-key leftists. I’d argue that turning the existing ones into leftists isn’t impossible too, the method to do so however must come in critique of capitalism’s effect on self-growth and sports. Turning existing athletes into leftists will come from finding what they care about and what they dislike in their sport and building a critique of capitalism causing it. For some it will just be about the money to them, but for others? I am certain a lot of them are genuinely passion-driven and that is something we can work with.