US Men’s Liberation in the 1970s: Autopsy of a Movement

In the wake of the US feminist second-wave, a Men’s Liberation movement emerged as an ally to liberal feminism but soon fractured over its relationship to feminism, leading to the rise of the antifeminist Men’s Rights movement. Through analysis of primary sources, media accounts, academic sources, and an interview with the movement’s chief activist, this paper reviews the ideology of 1970s Men’s Liberation, as well as its demographics, key figures, and organizations. It identifies reasons for the schism in the late 1970s and reflects on explanations for its short lifespan and failure, such as ideological shortcomings, organizational weakness, and motivational incoherence. Lastly, new research avenues are suggested, including archival work, fieldwork, transnational analysis, and exploration of its contemporary legacy.