Chafing masculinity: Heterosexual violence and young men's shame

Abstract

The role of shame in feminist activism has been debated lately, where scholars particularly have discussed whether shame could enable individuals with privileged positions, such as heterosexual men, to align with vulnerable groups or prevent them from political action. Drawing on written stories submitted to a feminist anti-violence campaign, this paper explores young men's shame of having been sexist or sexually violent. Through displaying shame, they distance themselves from problematic past violent or sexist actions, producing or reconstructing a respectable masculine subjectivity. In their narratives, the young men at times embrace and adopt a “chafing masculinity”, that is, an uncomfortable and troubling heteromasculine position. Drawing on these narratives, the paper discusses how shame – by exposing heterosexual men's uncontrolled discomfort and helping men to unlearn privilege – may be a politically progressive emotion and contribute to pro-feminist politics.