Publisher's Synopsis
Founded in 1978, "Achilles Heel" explored positive conceptions of masculinity and the ways in which men can change. It sought to persuade men to take responsibility for the power they share as men in relation to women - and to use this responsibility both in their personal relationships and in challenging the political and social institutions and practices that embody such power. This selection covers crucial issues in men's lives - work, sexuality, violence, relationships, family, class, sharing the experience of different masculinities - and brilliantly catches the tensions and anxieties of men trying to cope with the interplay between their sexuality and their political commitments. Founded in 1978, "Achilles Heel" explored positive conceptions of masculinity and the ways that men can change, refusing to reject masculinity itself as essentially oppressive. It sought to persuade men to take responsibility for the power they share as men in relation to women - and to use this responsibility both in their personal relationships and in challenging the political and social institutions and practices that embody such power.