Sir, - As someone who has long been engaged in working on men's issues I find the public debate about masculinity raised by the Exploring Masculinities programme encouraging. But despite the role attributed to me, and exemplified by John Waters' reference to me (EL, October 24th) as "one of the architects" of the programme, I can claim no credit for it.
I had no input into the design of the programme. My sole contribution was a one-minute appearance on the video that is part of the teaching materials. I was simply asked to speak about how the new academic interest in men and masculinity has come about and the kinds of topics it covers. This now includes a wide range of themes and perspectives, such as power, work, fatherhood, sexuality, and men's (ill-) health; and the effects of disadvantage, unemployment, poverty, suicide and other indicators of men's vulnerability, including being victims of violence. This all happened over two years ago and until the published programme landed on my desk in September I had absolutely no idea what was in it.
Mary T. Cleary (November 2nd) seems to have misunderstood the point I was trying to make in arguing that "changing how men and masculinity are constructed is what stopping violence and reaching victims has to be all about". I was actually referring in a compassionate way to male victims, in the context of pointing to how the dominant construction of masculinity that holds that men should always be strong, competitive and never show their true feelings or vulnerability contributes to men not being seen as victims and presents barriers to men coming forward. Life is much harder than it needs to be for many boys and men and we need to find ways to make it easier and safer, for all our sakes.
Until quite recently there was an ominous silence on men's issues and few points of view. Much as I disagree with some that have been expressed in these pages, particularly where they misrepresent my role and views, I hope that the relevance of these issues for everyone, not only for campaigners, will be apparent. Of particular importance are the concerns raised by fathers about their role in supporting their sons' - and daughters' - development and the kinds of outside supports that are appropriate. We need as much public discussion as possible, by women as well as men, about these issues and it is to be hoped that the debate will develop on as broad terms as possible and that everyone will gain something valuable from it. - Yours, etc.,
Harry Ferguson, Professor of Social Policy and Social Work, UCD, Dublin 4.