Drei Seiten einer Medaille Standortbestimmung gleichstellungsorientierter Männerarbeit im geschlechterpolitischen Feld.

The attitudes toward gender politics in the field of men’s initiatives and men’s groups in Austria have different and sometimes conflicting focal points. There are approaches that represent a gender democratic mission, which are mostly found in institutionalized men’s initiatives, but there is also the men’s and father’s rights movement, focussing on men primarily as ›victims of feminism‹. Finally some men’s initiation groups are active as well, working with an mythopetic and individualized framework. There has been a lack of scientific research and knowledge in Austria especially concerning the men’s and father’s rights movement. In 2014 an expert paper was published, which concentrated on gender equality positionings of men’s initiatives and men’s groups in Austria. In reference to the model of Messner (2000) it took a critical view on the practice in these fields, analysed different anti feminist arguments and made fact checks about topics, which were raised by anti feminists. In reference to the expert paper this article follows the question in which ways profeminist approaches of men’s initiatives differ from those who represent an anti feminist approach. It also discusses important conditions for equality-oriented dialogues and alliances in the field of gender work, which focuses on the increase of gender equality, stands against constricting positions and allows a gender balanced work with men. Models of good practice are outlined, that represent such gender democratic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]