EU FP5 Thematic Network. The European Research Network on Men in Europe: The Social Problem and Societal Problematisation of Men and Masculinities (HPSE-CT-1999-0008): The Social Problem of Men Deliverable 11 Draft Final Network Report From Workpackage 5

The topic of men is now on political, policy and media agendas. This report brings together the work of the European Research Network on Men in Europe that has been operating since March 2000, within the EU Framework 5. The overall aim of the Thematic Network is to develop empirical, theoretical and policy outcomes on the gendering of men and masculinities in Europe. The central focus of the Research Network’s effort is the investigation of the social problem and societal problematisation of men and masculinities. The reference to ‘social problem’ refers to both the problems created by men, and the problems experienced by men. The notion of societal problematisation refers to the various ways in which the ‘topic’ of men and masculinities has become and is becoming noticed and problematised in society – in the media, in politics, in policy debates, and so on. This focus is set within a general problematic: that changing and improving gender relations and reducing gender inequality involves changing men as well as changing the position of women.