After many years burdened by dogmas and self-destructive practices within the libertarian movement, it seems that a range of possibilities is finally opening up for critiquing the organizational logics and key concepts that prevented a sincere debate capable of transforming reality. This is not to diminish the progress (however partial) made in recent years. But some issues still need to be fully addressed. At least one. ---- Many libertarian spaces in recent years suffered from a very limited representation of women and dissident gender identities. This fact alone should make us reflect on how we have inhabited libertarian spaces.
The experience of many comrades in these spaces describes a tacit acceptance of the most conventional and toxic values of masculinity, wrapped in a liberating ideology. These groups exalt values such as rigid convictions and bravado, frequently transforming their activities into a quest for prestige rather than genuine political action. This, in turn, relegates activities considered less prestigious to a secondary role. Among these, reproductive labor, and particularly care work, stand out. This marginalization largely explains the periodic disarticulation and fragmentation of social movements, which leave behind small groups often more focused on squabbles and rivalries than on social transformation. Furthermore, the other major consequence of these masculinized dynamics is the glorification of action for its own sake, where acting becomes the de facto objective of the organization, progressively sidelining the aforementioned social transformation.
This is not to say that values such as conviction or courage cannot be functional for a specific practice, but rather that they become dysfunctional when they become an uncritical and normalized condition. a sine qua non for participating in the space, being heard, and demanding attention and agency. Ultimately, a way of inhabiting that brings us closer to hegemonic masculinities.
We are convinced that these ways of relating were reproduced similarly throughout much of the State, and that these dynamics have contributed to building a form of coexistence within anarchism that tends toward confrontation, hindering reflection on our own behavior and making it impossible for us to reach agreements in many areas.
This way of functioning, once normalized, does not only affect men, but, as a necessary condition for exercising agency, it meant a forced adaptation for the women and dissidents who were active alongside us. Often, aggressive attitudes, mistaken for militant conviction, were also practiced by them. Similarly, it also affects men who don't identify with that classic or toxic masculinity, who are often forced into a subservience and complicity that bears witness to a type of power closely linked to gender dynamics.
And we don't find these behaviors exclusively in political spaces. In leisure activities organized by social movements, behaviors directly related to the most toxic masculinity and machismo are regularly reproduced: violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and disrespectful behavior towards comrades. The constant repetition of these behaviors, despite the actions, conversations, and assembly decisions theoretically accepted by everyone, wears down comrades, who generally have to manage these situations during leisure time, in addition to the assemblies.
We know that today we are at a different point, and that it is appropriate to try to close the previous cycle. We see younger people practicing somewhat more relaxed forms of masculinity. We think they no longer confuse flexibility in reaching agreements with a lack of firmness, nor are they so easily swayed by pride when it comes to admitting a mistake. But this shouldn't be an excuse to avoid addressing such a complex issue, as it has enormous implications for achieving a libertarian political program: simply being a little better doesn't solve the problem. The situation remains such that the majority of those occupying these positions are cisgender men.
Let's consider how the personalities of the world's leading political figures perfectly align with traditional masculinity. Can we conceive of a genocide like the one unfolding in Palestine without a complete lack of empathy? Trump's attitude toward his allies without rampant narcissism? Or Putin's ambitions in Eastern Europe without blatant Machiavellianism? The most toxic aspects of dominant masculinity lead us toward approaches to managing public affairs characteristic of authoritarian governments, and these not only impact the highest echelons of international politics but are also present in the construction of anti-capitalist organizations. This is why it's urgent to reflect on what behaviors, reactions, and silences we choose to normalize in our own spaces.
And yes, we can say that these masculinities existed before we arrived. We can even say that our actions reflect a wound and that we treat others the same way we were treated. And yes, this explains, but it doesn't justify. Who are we today? Who do we want to be tomorrow? What kind of masculinities do we want to normalize for this reformulation of anarchism? Yes, patriarchy affects us all, and we can all be quite toxic at times, but now it is we, as men, who are called upon to step forward for two reasons. First, because they already did. Second, because that construction of "classic" anarchist masculinity was (was it?) directly based on us.
Are we fostering, in our debates and interactions, the creation of more livable spaces? Isn't the lack of women and dissident identities in our recent organizations also related to this? Clearly, this isn't the only reason, and to address this issue, we should also consider the rejection by a large part of the population of aligning themselves with established political identities, which they perceive as unattractive, even though in their daily lives they share the values of libertarian socialism. But this, again, doesn't diminish our responsibility in the slightest.
It's relevant. But we have a field in which to work, one way or another.
It's within our power to normalize, from this moment forward, ways of inhabiting libertarian environments based on non-hegemonic masculinities. Peaceful masculinities that don't fall into fratricidal logic, that reject the patriarchal pact, that assume their responsibilities, that admit mistakes, and that are flexible in their positions to reach agreements. Likewise, we must reflect on the extent to which these new masculinities are due to a readjustment of the system to ensure its perpetuation.
However, individual responsibility, while necessary, is not enough. Relying solely on it is to return to the (neo)liberal logic of blaming people for systemic problems. We have a personal responsibility to change these behaviors, but perhaps the most effective tool for achieving this will involve collective agreements. These approaches also have the immense advantage that we can include in this process the ideas and opinions of those directly affected by our behavior.
That is why we must emphasize the importance of a collective vision as opposed to the individualized solution advocated by "liberal feminism." Just as it is fundamental to promote individual reflection, it is also crucial to propose collective solutions. For example, establishing moderation tools and applying them in assemblies; promoting shared reflection through training and group activities; or equitably distributing less visible tasks through methods such as scheduling or drawing lots, instead of leaving them to the will of the people, which often results in them falling on "the same people as always." Perhaps in this way, new transformative movements could begin to shed the scourges of sexism and toxic masculinity, paving the way for new ways of thinking, priorities, and actions far removed from the pre-political conceptions held by those most resistant to change.
Masculinities by Xesta.
https://regeneracionlibertaria.org/2025/12/19/masculinidades-pacificas-para-unha-reformulacion-do-socialismo-libertario/
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Link: (en) Spain, Regeneration: Peaceful Masculinities for a Reformulation of Libertarian Socialism (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]
Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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