Sir, - As a critic of John Waters's approach to analysing men's issues and gender relations who works in what he cruelly caricatures as "some fossilised patriarchal institution" (November 25th) I am saddened by his characterisation of such criticism of his views as part of the "pervasive hatred of men" which he alleges now grips our culture.
It would take a full article to adequately counter the misinformation in his article, but allow me to focus on one central clarification. There is a crucial difference between criticising all men - which John Waters accuses the likes of me of - and offering a critique of dominant forms of masculinity and institutions - which is the kind of project I am engaged in.
Of particular concern is the need to work against a "toxic" masculinity which continues to make things such as power, performance in the public domain, competition, homophobia (understood in the broad sense of men's fears of closeness with other men), and other painful realities such as violence between men and against women such dominant features of gender relations today. It is this toxic form of masculinity that I - and I believe other (pro) feminist critics - hate, not all individual men.
It is precisely because toxic masculinity not only damages women and girls but threatens to distort the goodness of boys and men, leading to fears of vulnerability and intimacy and the tragedy of increases in male suicide and violence, that I believe it is in the interests of all men to work against patriarchy. Far from being an expression of hate, critiquing masculinity is an expression of love for men and a way of honouring their decency.
Finally, I would appeal to John Waters not to continue with his invitation to readers to propose candidates for "a Misandrist of the Year Award, an annual tribute to the top man-hater in Irish public life". But if he is to continue, the sheer contempt that he expresses for men like me means that he is bound to win. Many congratulations, John - Yours, etc.,
Deptartment of Applied Social Studies, University College, Cork.