User:Krischik/MGTOW (Men Going their Own Way)

The acronym MGTOW stands for Men Going Their Own Way and refers to men who advise avoiding relationships women, variously including marriage, having girlfriends, and/or even at times non-romantic relationships. The MGTOW community has been loosely associated with the Men's rights movement.

As described by prominent publications

In 2012, the MGTOW were described differently in various prominent publications.

In an investigative report critical of the men's rights movement, The Southern Poverty Law Center painted a negative picture of MGTOW men, presenting quotes from MGTOW that include violent metaphors. It quoted MGTOW advocates as dis-recommending marriage on the grounds that it allows the woman and the state to virtually kidnap a man's children, evict him from his home, steal his money, and enslave him for life on pain of prison.^[1]

In contrast, Dr. Jeremy Nicholson, M.S.W., Ph.d., for his column "The Attraction Doctor" in Psychology Today, viewed MGTOW more sympathetically, calling societal and female expectations on men in relationships a "double bind", which has left many men "wounded" or "frustrated" to the point that have chosen to "opt out" entirely and instead concentrate on making themselves happy in other ways. ^[2]

In February, 2011, in an article about her published thesis that what she terms "the rise of women" has had a negative influence on men, American author Kay Hymowitz suggested the reader search for terms including "MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way)" for examples of young men frustrated by women who complain of inequality while demanding preferential treatment. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

As self-described

MGTOW describe themselves in self-published books and websites.

mgtow.com

Authors such as Kay Hymowitz suggest the popular website mgtow.com for readers interested in this matter. According to it, MGTOW are men who share a specific view, philosophy, or school of thought with regard to modern society, romantic relationships, and women in general. The website's states that, while the specific wording differs among individuals, generally accepted definitions within the MGTOW community online includes:

A man who is expected to protect his self-ownership and sovereignty
A man who avoids cultural definitions/preconceptions of what a "man" is
A man who looks to no one for social cues and approval
A man who does not allow anyone to treat him as a disposable utility
A man who lives according to his own best interests

The marriage contract is regarded as a bad deal for the male gender, so MGTOW advocate a life without it. Many self-identified MGTOW also advise men stay away from all romantic relationships, which they see as inherently dangerous and exploitative, or even in some cases women in general, who they see as manipulative by nature.

References

^ Goldwag, Arthur (Spring 2012). "Leader's Suicide Brings Attention to Men's Rights Movement". Intelligence Report (145). Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 6 April 2015. Other movement adherents have forsworn sex altogether, or at least romantic relationships and marriage; the acronym they use for themselves is MGTOW, for "Men Going Their Own Way." "If you are willing to marry a woman — any woman — in the West then you must also be willing to become the next murder-suicide story when she threatens to file for divorce, steal your kids out of your life and extort you for every current and future dollar you will ever earn," wrote one commenter at The Spearhead. "If a man kidnapped your children, stole your home, your wallet and your bank account, you'd be more than willing to kill him in self defense. Why is it any different when ex-wives do it with the full force of the law behind them?"
^ Nicholson, M.S.W., Phd., Dr. Jeremy (April 03, 2012). "Dr". Psychology Today. The Attraction Doctor. Sussex Publishers, LLC. Retrieved April 6, 2015. Men have adapted and devised a number of strategies to make the best of these difficult options, including the following:.... 3. 1) Becoming Attractive - one strategy adopted by some men is to become attractive, dominant, and sexually-forward. These are the guys who are often labeled "players", "macks", and "pick-up artists". With this strategy, men are often able to fulfill their short-term sexual needs—especially within the modern, socially-sanctioned climate of "hook-ups" and causal encounters. In fact, many of these men are former virgins and "nice guys" who previously could not get their physical needs addressed. Many of these tactics, however, primarily attract women who are focused on short-term flings with attractive men (see here). Therefore, the relationship needs of the men using this strategy may be less fulfilled in the long run. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[SPLC-1] Goldwag, Arthur (Spring 2012). "Leader's Suicide Brings Attention to Men's Rights Movement". Intelligence Report (145). Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 6 April 2015. Other movement adherents have forsworn sex altogether, or at least romantic relationships and marriage; the acronym they use for themselves is MGTOW, for "Men Going Their Own Way." "If you are willing to marry a woman — any woman — in the West then you must also be willing to become the next murder-suicide story when she threatens to file for divorce, steal your kids out of your life and extort you for every current and future dollar you will ever earn," wrote one commenter at The Spearhead. "If a man kidnapped your children, stole your home, your wallet and your bank account, you'd be more than willing to kill him in self defense. Why is it any different when ex-wives do it with the full force of the law behind them?"

[2] Nicholson, M.S.W., Phd., Dr. Jeremy (April 03, 2012). "Dr". Psychology Today. The Attraction Doctor. Sussex Publishers, LLC. Retrieved April 6, 2015. Men have adapted and devised a number of strategies to make the best of these difficult options, including the following:.... 3. 1) Becoming Attractive - one strategy adopted by some men is to become attractive, dominant, and sexually-forward. These are the guys who are often labeled "players", "macks", and "pick-up artists". With this strategy, men are often able to fulfill their short-term sexual needs—especially within the modern, socially-sanctioned climate of "hook-ups" and causal encounters. In fact, many of these men are former virgins and "nice guys" who previously could not get their physical needs addressed. Many of these tactics, however, primarily attract women who are focused on short-term flings with attractive men (see here). Therefore, the relationship needs of the men using this strategy may be less fulfilled in the long run. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

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