Seminal Emissions

Hi, I'm Terry. I'm a regular guy and I'm passionate about men's issues and gender topics. I was a feminist for 15 years--in my research and travels as a male feminist, I stumbled onto an immense yet hidden world of male suffering and negative male narratives. It made me realize that we live in not just a sexist society, but a situationally based bi-sexist society. That is, depending on the situation, one gender or the other may find itself advantaged or disadvantaged. The male side of this bi-sexist experience has, in my opinion, been largely ignored and/or overlooked. Consequently, men's challenges, as well as the true nature of masculinity, are both misunderstood and dramatically misrepresented. Further, decades of a women's movement without a complementary shift for men has created a social gender ecosystem that is out of balance. This book uses the symbiotic interplay between the art of poetry and the thought-provoking side of prose as a powerful catalyst to both explore that imbalance and to promote a deeper exploration of current-day gender dynamics. (And, maybe more significantly, to support, promote, amplify, and give permission for the invisible male voice in our culture to be heard--an intention which runs counter to male gender training!) This book is a multilayered work and begins with a timeless story--an archetypal boy-to-man tale that came to me in a dream. I use this story as metaphorical springboard to discuss different aspects of male developmental psychology, and as a device to weave/explain the nature of men's challenges throughout the book. I also discuss how we create and experience reality through narratives and stories, and how feminism has profoundly affected the narrative development regarding social gender identity/perception in men and women. Many topics because of their impact on men's lives, and the fabric of this book, are frequently reiterated--topics such as rituals, mentors, fatherhood/father absence, relationships, work, divorce, violence/hazing, growing up male; as well as the effects of media, technology, and feminism. I also get personal--that is, I use myself as an autobiographical reference throughout the book to better illuminate the path and purpose of this work. I do so because how author's get to their views and opinions can be as significant and informative as the material itself, and simultaneously co-create a substantial amount of narrative depth. While this book may ultimately appeal to and benefit a wide audience, it is especially suited for those who are interested in poetry, social sciences, gender studies, relationship dynamics, holistic theory, spirituality, and male psychology. Women may be able to better understand and communicate with the men in their lives. Men will receive a fully stocked tool box of ideas and suggestions with regard to self-understanding, relationship perspectives, boundary setting, and self-help regimes. Counselors, therapists, teachers, and social workers might also find a rich and expansive gender blueprint of thoughts to empower, explore, and better serve their clients and students. For our culture, this book may illuminate a potential path toward gender equality and gender balance... for all. I end the book with some suggestions for entertainment and research--a menu of songs and cinema which I believe are symbolic but effective glimpses into the mysteries of understanding men.