Reaction to whether men can write about feminism or not

I haven't read any Hugo Schwyzer (although now I certainly intend to), but Noah Burlatsky's article in response to Schwyzer's recent New York magazine interview did touch on some issues that I fret over way too much with my own work.

Schwyzer says, "If you look at the men who are writing about feminism, they toe the line very carefully. It’s almost like they take their cues from the women around them. Men are afraid of women’s anger. It’s very hard for men to stand up to women’s anger."

Although, I don't think I'm toeing the line at all with what I make, I am afraid of how it will be received by a feminist audience. That's precisely because I'm not toeing the line, and I'm worried that by portraying certain images or actions in my comics, writing, and art I'll unintentionally contribute to the very issues I'm trying to critique. An example of this would be my performative comics reading of Peeled & Deveined at Brain Frame 3 (follow link for video, photos, and an explanation of the piece).

Also, though, I just don't feel comfortable yet being a male feminist. I don't feel like I've "earned" my place or the right to exercise a strong, opinionated, even possibly unpopular voice...although I still do it, despite my self-doubt.

For a long time I resisted referring to myself as a feminist, and still cringe, because it sounds self-congradulatory and pretentious in my mouth. It seems to undermine everything I believe in and want to say. It makes me feel like a phony.

I don't want to wear it as a badge. And so I tend not to use the word at all when referring to myself. If that's what I am, fine, but I don't need the label. At least not for now.

I intend to keep moving forward and keep making the kind of work that feels right to me. I don't know if I'll ever feel fully comfortable or confident about being the person who's making it, but at least I'll know that I'm not toeing the line.

Like Eno-Fripp said: No Pussyfooting.