Good Will Toward Men is a provocative and constructive collection of in-depth dialogues between Jack Kammer-a Baltimore-based writer and men's issues advocate-and twenty-two accomplished, diverse women from across North America. The participants include attorneys, therapists, academics, journalists, and activists who speak candidly about masculinity, fatherhood, and the current state of gender relations.
The book's central premise is that the national conversation on gender has been dominated by a female-centered perspective, leaving men's legitimate concerns unspoken, unaddressed, and socially stigmatized. Kammer and his interviewees challenge a culture that scrutinizes sexism against women while treating sexism against men as trivial or nonexistent.
Key Themes and Concepts
- Sexism as a "Reciprocating Engine" The book posits that sexism is a vicious cycle harming both genders. It suggests that women cannot achieve true autonomy as long as men remain strait-jacketed by rigid societal stereotypes.
- The Maximum Security Prison of Manhood: Social norms-reinforced by both conservative and feminist frameworks-imprison men in narrow roles. While often perceived as having power and privilege, men face harsh realities including higher suicide rates, shorter lifespans, emotional isolation, and the onerous duty of being valued primarily only for their role as an economic provider.
- Fatherhood as the Holy Grail of Masculinity: A major focus is the devaluation of fathers in work/life balance, divorce, custody law, and social policy. The contributors argue that the concept of the disposable father is a social malady and they advocate for shared custody, recognizing that children and men suffer when fatherhood is reduced to a mere financial obligation.
The 2025 Edition and Updated "Theory of the Case"
The 2025 edition includes three new appendices and updated introductions discussing how the gender landscape has shifted over three decades. Kammer lays out the case that modern feminism has strategically slandered men, particularly about traits that are essential to effectiveness and success in parenthood and family relationships to preserve women's dominance in those arenas.
Notable Voices
The interviewees represent a broad ideological spectrum, featuring figures such as:
- Karen DeCrow: President of NOW, 1974-1977 (equal options for men are essential for women's equality)
- Helen Fisher: Anthropologist (discussing sexual harassment and sexuality).
- Suzanne Steinmetz: Sociologist (discussing domestic violence against men).
- Rikki Klieman: Attorney (discussing false rape accusations).
