Why Aren’t Men’s Issues Being Taken Seriously?
Why men’s issues are not taken seriously is a question we often ask ourselves at Dads4Kids. In addition to our passion for helping Aussie dads be the best they can be, raising awareness for men’s issues has been a driving force behind our work since 2002. It’s why we have been advocating for men’s issues in Australia’s Parliament for over 20 years. It’s also why we sponsor International Men’s Day on November 19.
So, when good friend of Dads4Kids David Maywald shared a fascinating discussion on this very question between Chris Williamson and George TheTinMen via LinkedIn, I had to watch.
According to the video description, ‘Why is it so hard to advocate for the problems of boys and men? If truly we care about half of the population flourishing and living lives they enjoy, why is it so unpopular to talk about the challenges they’re facing?’ Indeed. The discussion is wide-ranging, covering everything from ludicrous legacy media claims such as ‘Mental Toughness is Toxic Masculinity, through to ‘The Future of Men’s Advocacy.’ It’s worth a watch.
As is often the case, the comments section offers even more food for thought, but here are three takeaways from me:
- Feminist ideology is a cancer on society. In addition to effectively silencing discussion of men’s issues, the feminist system of ideas does not help either women or children. The evidence is all around us, and Janice Fiamengo makes a strong case for being ‘anti-feminist’.
- Studies find both men and women feel less empathy for men, which is sad but true. The reality is men are wired to work hard, provide for their families, achieve great exploits and make immense sacrifices for the common good. This makes men amazing and incredibly valuable to our societies, and it certainly doesn’t take anything away from women or children (in fact, most men wish to help and support women and children!)
As Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, the founder of International Men’s Day (IMD), says, ‘IMD has the potential to become the global medium to heal our world. The concept and themes of IMD are designed to give hope to the depressed, faith to the lonely, comfort to the broken-hearted, transcend barriers, eliminate stereotypes and create a more caring humanity.’
- What are we men to do? The answer is multi-layered and involves some work, but it’s worth it: Keep on being positive male role models (also IMD’s theme for 2024), call out discrimination against men when you see it, and keep doing what we men do best: Continue making the world a better place.
Lovework
Keep cultivating your character, and do what you can to support other men. Celebrate International Men’s Day this Tuesday; there are plenty of ways to get involved. You could catch up with some mates, or tune into Andrew Gray’s International Men’s Day – Livestream Mini Marathon (19 November, 3pm–9pm AEDT). If you can, do both together!
If you’re near Canberra on Tuesday, there’s an important event taking place on the lawn in front of Parliament House from 7am–3pm AEDT – Follow Zerosuicide Community Awareness Program on Facebook to find out more.
Our friends at the International Council for Men and Boys are celebrating Men’s Equality Month in November with an event in New York City, Tuesday evening (10:30am Wednesday 20 November AEDT). Email Larry DeMarco to find out more.
Life is busy, but do what you can to get involved. Our children’s children will thank you!
Yours for men,
Nathaniel Marsh
P.S. Only 2 sleeps until International Men’s Day, Tuesday, November 19! The theme for 2024 is Positive Male Role Models. Make sure you plan to celebrate the day in some way – visit here for some ideas on things to do. November is also Men’s Equality Month, a dedicated time to celebrate the role that men and boys play in society, and to raise awareness about the 12 areas of male disadvantage. Visit https://www.menandboys.net/mem/ to learn more.
P.P.S. Thanks to the generous support of our amazing donors, we’re able to send you this Free Email Newsletter. If you enjoy receiving weekly inspiration and encouragement from Dads4Kids, please consider supporting Dads4Kids on a monthly basis.
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Republished with thanks to Dads4Kids. Image courtesy of Pexels.
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I am seriously ill , Urgent- Category 1 and My Aged Care has approved trips to Outpatients , etc. These cost me $42-00 a trip. I was harangued by a female staffer of Community Transport ( a Charity which both the Tasmanian + Federal Govts. fund ) that the Service was ” not appropriate ” for me and I ” should find alternative transport ” to get me to Outpatients for an urgent biopsy. The only alternative is taxi which costs $500-00 a trip ! My point is that Feminism has created hard, vicious women with not an ounce of compassion ! The only help I get is from men . I am sorry that the World is so upside down that men are not valued. I am told that the estrogen from The Pill has resulted in large numbers of men in the USA with low or no sperm count. I support ” November Men’s Equality Month “and 19 November “International Men’s Day ” . I have loving childhood memories of my many kind Great-Uncles .
I am a first year medical student , male, in my 40s. When I recognised male students were not speaking up or participating in social forums and social events like the female students alarm bells rang and I wondered why.
The medical school I am in has one of if not the highest ratios of women: men in Australia roughly 70:30 female/ men, where most medical schools have a 55:45 female : female ratio of medical students
I noticed there was both a women’s advocacy group in medicine for the uni- and there was a lgbtq + group but no men’s advocacy- yet this university- The University of Wollongong since 2019 has known of the significant divide in the number of male students to female students
So I proposed to a Facebook group of med students maybe we need to have a men’s advocacy group. I found it was challenging studying medicine and very little support by the staff. They say it’s like drinking from a fire hydrant just keep swallowing. That’s hardly support. So I was shocked when I made this suggestion of my own cohort- namely younger female students immediately began to attack me- telling me I was sexist, a misogynist and held predujice against women for proposing a male advocacy group. My reputation was in tatters- but despite this the Facebook administrator- also a woman then deletes me from the group- and both her and one of the women accusing me of being sexist strongly encouraged other students make a formal complaint . I couldn’t believe it. Several students reached out to me asking if I was ok- another student who is the health and well being rep reached out recognising that what happened the attack on me by these female students was not on.
So I wrote a notice of concern to these students telling them their posts had seriously defamed me and ask they take down their posts.. they refused. The harm and humiliation of my reputation continued.
Then literally the next day I am contacted by the Uni saying I am immediately suspended- that it is alleged I am sexist, that I have threatened legal action and threatened female students welfare. The university has an in-house legal counsel. In NSW a person is not threatening anyone if they send them a notice of concern to notice for defamation.
These nasty bullying students had rebranded my request to take their posts down, that was harming me as threatening them.
It took the University one day to cut my it access- prevent my continuation in my students- prevent my access to an exam I was scheduled to sit- and they did it under a wrong policy!
So I am now taking both these students and the university to court for defamation, breach of contract and negligence.
If this is how society reacts when a person comes forward and recognises poor men’s health and suggests a male advocacy group then is it any wonder why men are not speaking up?
Seperately to this I approached the Associate Dean for Inclusion, Diversity and Equality with the idea of a men’s advocacy group in medical studies for the University and this person was very keen to meet and was very supportive of the idea. What really scared me is there seems to be this sexist misandrist view of men in medical schools- at least the one I am studying at that allows female students to make wild and extremely harmful accusarions of men using false allegations. And these nasty students are not disciplined. They are not investigated. They are rewarded. While the victim faces humiliation and exclusion.
We must start treating all genders the same- and that includes pointing out when women do wrong and cause harm.