The Rights of Men

The other main topic for discussion was a motion involving the proposal for a Men's Rights Officer. The mover said that women's liberation was aimed at sexual equality for women, and that was good, but there should be sexual equality for men too. The seconder said that women's issues require male support and the Men's Rights Officer would help the Women's Rights Officer. Mike Treen argued forcibly against the motion, saying that the appointment of a Men's Rights Officer would be a disgusting distortion of everything the Women's Rights Officer stood for.

The arguments for the motion were in themselves condescending and showed the very things that women were at present fighting to overcome. The oppression of men, if it exists, is based on the oppression of women. Therefore, the freedom of men will only be brought about through the freedom of women. The election of a Men's Rights Officer could only serve to defend the present position of men in this society.