Author of VOICE MALE Editor of Voice Male Magazine
–
For three decades Rob Okun has been advocating and agitating for the social transformation of masculinity. In addition to the insights found in his new book, his commentaries and op-eds have appeared in a range of publications—from Ms. to Alternet; WomensEnews to VDay, and his columns on men and violence and men and feminism have been featured in anthologies including Men Speak Out as well as broadcast on public radio.
As an activist in—and a chronicler of—the profeminist men’s movement (he was executive director of one of the oldest antiviolence men’s centers in North America and facilitated batterers’ groups for many years) his new book, VOICE MALE: The Untold Story of the Profeminist Men’s Movement, offers an inside look at the transformation of masculinity through more than 100 stories, commentaries and essays that have appeared in Voice Male magazine. It gives voice to a variety of perspectives from boys becoming men to being a father; from navigating life as a GBTQ man to the struggles and joys of being a man of color; from overcoming violence to new beginnings as a survivor. Rob, who served as editor of two earlier magazines and publisher of another, has been editor of Voice Male since 1997.
To contact Rob, email him at rob@voicemalemagazine.org, or call 413.687.8171.
PRAISE FOR Voice Male and Voice Male: the Untold Story of the Profeminist Men’s Movement:
|
“Here is a book for women to feel hopeful about men. Longtime editor of Voice Male magazine Rob Okun and a chorus of writers tell the story of a movement of men standing with women in the struggle to end violence against women. But this brave book does more, revealing an emerging man culture where men are reclaiming their tears and their hearts as they join women in creating a world where we are all safe and free.” —V-Day founder Eve Ensler, playwright of The Vagina Monologues and author of In the Body of the World |
“Rob Okun is a founding father of the profeminist men’s movement in this country. His important book combines decades of boots-on-the-ground activism with worldly-wise psychological insight, presenting the voices of men also fighting the good fight. Profound, inspiring, and full of surprises, this anthology is a must read for anyone committed to peace.” —Mark Matousek, author of Ethical Wisdom: The Search for a Moral Life |
|
“Why are almost all the stone throwers in the world male? How do boys become men? What does it mean to be a man? What happens when men come together without women? Can you imagine men building a beloved community? Maybe it begins with Voice Male…a manual for good living [and] a book thinking about answers.” —E. Ethelbert Miller, Director of the African American Resource Center, Howard University, author of Fathering Words: The Making of an African American Writer and The 5th Inning. |
“Voice Male inspires men to think more deeply about what it means to be a man. From working to end gender-based violence to examining their roles as partners and fathers, it’s an invaluable tool for removing obstacles keeping men from reclaiming their full humanity.” —Judy Norsigian, Coauthor/Executive Director of Our Bodies, Ourselves |
|
“This book is a critical tool in dismantling what’s oppressive in male culture.” —Renner Wunderlich & Margaret Lazarus, producer/directors of the Academy-award winning Defending Our Lives, Rape is and Rape Culture |
In chronicling the commitment of anti-sexist men, Rob Okun continues his long legacy of redefining American manhood. This book helps feminists and their male allies to deconstruct patriarchy, shifting the paradigm of what it means to be a real man. Voice Male is both a guide and a searchlight for future generations of boys and men. Byron Hurt, director of I Am A Man: Black Masculinity in America and Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes |
