I am a young man, almost 26, and have been pondering a few issues in my mind lately. In fact I've been pondering it for 3-4 years seriously now but recently came to an obvious but interesting observation. My interest is in group gender dynamics. I am interested in comparing the general characteristics of how men act in groups of only men, of how groups act with a proportionate amount of women, and in groups with only women. I have a good intuition of the basic characteristics of how they act just by looking at history. I have become very excited about the implications of women's impact on government, since for all intensive purposes and without even needing to present specific evidence, all governments have been male. I know about the ever so few matriarchal societies but if they average out to less than .001 percent then I am treating them as inconsequential as far as their impact on the human culture.

Without getting into this too deep as I know there are thousands of other inquiries, I am asking for a good source for any information on the psychology of group dynamics and how they change with the inception of women having about an equal influence. I think that the balance is a key to something no government, especially a world power, has ever had the chance to experience. By the way our government is structured, its basic structure, the possibility for a proportional amount of women may be a very real possibility and I would make considerable effort to support it as the benefit of all is involved. I currently believe that our nature in groups cannot be overcome by us, and we alone, just by looking at our real goals in government, are your and our downfall. Anyhow I'm a bit zealous about my new vision, take it with as much salt necessary. - Brian.

Thanks for your note and I hope that my delay in responding hasn't in any way dappened your zealousness. I have a couple of suggestions, but mostly the work of men such as Michael Kimmel and John Stoltenberg (author of Refusing to Be a Man and other books). Kimmel, too, has authored books and works a lot with men in relationship to feminism. Kimmel, too, I believe, was involved in this documentary done a few years ago--"The Color of Fear", which was a group of men coming together for a weekend retreat. It was great--and I think got at what you are getting at to some extent. I believe you can find it through the Oakland Men's Project (based in Oakland, CA). You should know about this group, too, regardless of the film. They are doing pioneering work with men in groups.

Also related--is in some way Carol Gilligan's book In A Different Voice. In this book, Gilligan articulated that the conversations we all were participating in were male conversations--and men and women alike felt alienated from these conversations--so her work was trying to connect--women and men's interior monologues to these external conversations.

I hope this helps.

—Amy