Feminism and men

It would appear that some of the men about campus have had their egos bashed in rape forums and the like, and that they feel alienated because they have not been welcomed as Lords and masters. You would never dream of going onto a marae and telling Maoris how to run their meetings, or_ suggest that the proceedings should all be in English because you can't understand the Maori language. But in the rape forum I saw men standing up and telling women how they should run their forum, and you shouldn't wonder you don't get welcomed when all you do is hand out paternal advice. Have you ever stopped picking faults in the women's arguments long enough to hear the good points they are making.

It is a cold fact in our society that women are oppressed by men, and that men gain advantage from this oppression. Women fight an uphill battle in the work force and it is men that get the jobs ahead of them. It is women that worry about walking alone at night while men can hitch hike alone without fear of rape. You may be an 'aware' person and let women discover themselves and do their own thing, but can't you see that this is still happening at your discretion. You still have the power. We men do still have the power and we are still benefiting from the oppression of women.

Men, I agree, need liberating too, but it is men that should be doing the work rather than relying on women, who have plenty of hassles of their own, to fight for men's rights as well. It is men who should be forming consciousness raising groups and organising forums to do this. I believe we will get the support of the women's movement if we show a little initiative. Men must stop sitting on the fence complaining about discrimination and instead get off their arses and sort out their own problems as women are already doing. Any men that are interested in taking action to change themselves and their world - through consciousness raising, assertiveness training, organising forums, just talking to other men of similar beliefs, or any other way that you can think of are invited to ring me (757-107), Peter (894-160), or Don (859-663) to help organise future activity on campus.