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The Macho Paradox

Why Some Men Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help

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About this listen

Revised and updated to include current studies, politics, and discussions, The Macho Paradox is the first book to show how violence against women is a male issue as well as a female one - and how we can come together to stop it.

Written by pioneering anti-violence educator Jackson Katz, The Macho Paradox incorporates the voices and experiences of women and men who have confronted the problem from all angles, the discussions surrounding currents events in politics and pop culture, and where the violence is ignored or encouraged in our upbringing. Katz also offers cogent explanations for why so many men harass and hurt women, and he shows what can be done to stop the violence.

By working together as allies, Katz shows how all genders can end the abuse and mistreatment of women.

©2006, 2019 Jackson Katz (P)2019 Tantor Abuse Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Gender Studies Parenting & Families Personal Development Relationships Sexual Abuse & Harassment Social Sciences Social justice Discrimination
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Firstly, I’d like to say that I really did learn a lot from the author, I’ve found his work via a podcast interview and that led me to delve deeper.

It’s an enlightening listening experience but I have to say that I found the timbre of the narration a little difficult to stay engaged with. Maybe it’s because I’m an English man coming to the audiobook but for me it upbeat style belied the serious nature of the discussion.

Still I learnt a great deal that I will take away from this.

Enlightening listen

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I liked how it covered most angles, including how we are educating men as well as boys
what I didn't like is that the audio version, whilst taking the opportunity to look at issues as they now stand a decade after writing the book, did not mention a huge issue of trans gender; specifically men now presenting as women, and how that affects the dynamics of women's safety moving forward.
Great book though

A well balanced look at gender violence and the culture of men and women

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I'm still at the beginning and I will keep listening because I know the author's work, his commitment and his generosity, so I trust the book will tell me much of his experience as an activist who speaks to men against gender violence. The only problem I have so far is the reading, incredibly monotonous and flat: despite the burning human content of the book, and despite the author's explicit warnings against becoming desensitized to this topic, he seems to be reading the news, I hear no difference in tone from the quotes, to the stories, to the arguments made in the book. I will power through, because as I said I need to know the content, but the reader is merely acknowledging the text and doesn't do much to make it compelling or engaging...

Spoiled by performance

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Jackson Katz clearly and concisely debunks the myth that men’s violence against women and girls is a ‘woman’s issue’ and whilst he acknowledges that women can, and do, have a role to play in recovery and awareness raising, for women and girls who have been or may potentially be, subjected to male violence, he is also very clear in stating that responsibility for prevention lies primarily with men and boys.
However, he does so in a way that presents this potential attitudinal and behavioural change as beneficial not only to women and girls, but also to boys and men themselves, and therefore for society more broadly.
Katz focusses on societal values, beliefs and long held misconceptions, not to let perpetrators ‘off the hook’ but to demonstrate that we cannot rely on change at an individual, personal level. The problem, and therefore the solution, must reach far beyond this.

A much needed and valuable shift in perspective.

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This is a must read for everyone. Have bought this for 3 male friends who I love and adore but think they would benefit from reading. Thank goodness books like this are being written. Thank you Jackson Katz.

the entire book

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