A visual exploration of men, masculinities, conflict and love
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom has launched a photography exhibition titled “Men and Love in times of Conflict and Polarisation”. This exhibition was produced by the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Initiative of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
The images exhibited here were submitted to WILPF in response to two photography collaborations. In 2022, the collaboration focused on Militarised Masculinities and Alternatives. In 2023, it focused on Men and Love in Times of Conflict and Polarisation. These images explore the relationships between men, masculinities, conflict, care, and love.
We hope the exhibition challenges still persistent but widely circulated stereotypes of men as inevitably aggressive and angry, stoic and cold, ripped and fit, hypersexual and heterosexual, sexist and homophobic, and enthusiastic supporters of war, weapons, nationalists and populists. Too many men still try to achieve these impossible ideals and cause harm to themselves and others. But a steadily growing number of men recognize these stereotypes of manhood as dangerous and oppressive and are busy redefining themselves and their relationships with others.
We hope these images offer a more nuanced portrayal of men’s lives: of men as also joyful and warm, caring and compassionate, loving and vulnerable, committed to peace and our planet, and ardent supporters of everyone’s ability to access all of their rights.
Join us in finding ways to increase men’s support for feminist peace!
Click below to download the exhibition document.