This comment was by Kari on the post “Why I’m Proud to be a Men’s Rights Feminist“
After reading all the comments on the post Why I’m Proud to be a Men’s Rights Feminis, I’m as awed as the author Mark Greene that such an intelligent and civil discussion about Feminism and Men’s Rights could come to pass. And that after 160+ comments (combined over the two articles), the conversation is still civil and intelligent and hasn’t devolved into the personal attacks and repetitive talking-past-each-other I’ve seen on many other threads. This is exactly why I follow GMP.
It seems to me that out of all the responses, Joanna articulated the most concise and direct answer to Heather’s original question about what “ideas and philosophies” define the MRM – “to draw attention to, and gather support for, men’s issues that often go ignored or unreported.” This is such an elegant answer. Substitute “men” with any other word and you’ve got the essential definition of any movement. Maybe the essence of the MRM isn’t about reacting to feminists or Feminism, it isn’t about proposing new theories of gender or even debating old theories, it’s simply about shining a light on what’s hidden. It’s about naming suffering that’s caused by categorical oversight. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good theoretical debate, but at the end of the day, addressing the problems in people’s lives is way better. Hail to Mark for the call to stop the bickering and start the changing, as someone eloquently put it.
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Photo: “Man seated at a table covered with publications writes, perhaps on a union card, while another man waits.” 1937. photographer, Louise Boyle. On Flickr, courtesy of The Kheel Center
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Water often is used as a base for your favourite low carb smoothie; it owns the minimum amount of carbs of most -infact
zero. But rather than scold them into eating their fruits and vegetables,
I find that being creative works much nicer. 1 ripe banana 1 tablespoon
of honey (not for children under 1).
I think you’re missing the point of women’s hospitals. They’re not ”women’s” in order to advantage women or to be single sex, they are just focused on treating problems with the female reproductive tract and processes. Just like you have eye specialist hospitals, heart specialist hospitals and the like. The male reproductive tract is less problematic medically, but your equivalent is a urology hospital. The way society stands disadvantages men by denying them the right to show emotion, take on ‘female’ roles or interests, (yes, even wear dresses, though that is all tied to homophobia and vice versa). I’m not… Read more »
From my experience in the government world, mens issues aren’t just ignored, they are actively swept under the rug. I believe there is a concerted effort to do so as well.
When we look at things like health care, there a fair number of womens only hospitals, women only departments, women only laws (some are gender neutral in words but not in reality). This indicates an actual real effort to bury them.
About time we started addressing men as human beings, complete with feelings, thoughts, emotions, and all that goes with! I’m incredibly tired in the idea of “us vs. them” — that argument holds no value for me or the men in my life.
RE: “About time we started addressing men as human beings”
I always have, I would have hoped you have as well.