Targeting sexism in the most effective way

The Spearhead blog has a post listing feminist law professors by name and University which is titled, "Meet your Oppressors:"

Are you one of the millions of men who has seen his life crumble under the treads of the family law system? Did you ever wonder why hatred and abuse directed toward men was so prevalent in school? Maybe you’re an employer who got screwed in a sexual harassment lawsuit, or an employee who was falsely accused.

Of course, the following list is not comprehensive, but it’s a good start. It shows where they work, and has links to CVs that detail their experience and affiliations. Those who are interested in activism can use the info to protest the nearest school, or if they are alumni to demand an explanation for why the school is promoting sexist, misandrist female supremacists.

The list has been taken from the feminist law professor blog. Are all of these academics misandric female supremacists? I dunno, they might be or they might not. I would want more specific instances and examples of exactly what these professors are doing that is harming men and then address those issues. For example, if they are truly teaching students in the classroom to be sexist, tape a session--depending on the law in your area-- and put it on the web with a warning along with their name and university. Write to alumni and tell them what you found, along with the URL to the video and question whether they want to donate to support such abuse. Use specific examples, not generalities.

I think men's rights activists would be better off targeting more direct instances of injustice such as that of Judge Donald Poppy from Wisconsin who admits that he is sexist when administering court decisions, letting women off for sexual assault when he admits a man would be in jail. Writing letters, protesting near a sexist judge's office or home, and calling his place of business would perhaps make him think twice about his injustice against men. Poppy is running for re-election in April of 2010 and the race is uncontested. Too bad.

Send Carol Shea-Porter home instead

I just got a new blogad (on your right) about Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), the Congresswoman who talked about sending men home from Congress so health care could get passed. I just joined their campaign to remove this woman from office. It's important not just to talk about men's rights and issues but to be proactive when it comes to fighting back against those who think misandry is a God-given right. You can learn more about the campaign here.

WSJ: The New Art of Alimony:

Long viewed as payment for life, divorce settlements are facing strict new limits as some ex-spouses—primarily men—protest the endless support of a former partner. For richer, for poorer, forever?

"I wish I had a bit more courage,...."

The Spectator: "Toby Young says that Father’s Day is nothing to celebrate: today’s neutered dads have become overworked assistants to their children rather than paternal role models." Young makes some good points about dads in the article and how their role is diminished, but the main item that caught my eye was this:

I wish I had a bit more courage, particularly as I have three sons. Among advocates of men’s rights, the main focus is on the iniquities of family law — and the bias shown towards women in custody agreements is clearly indefensible. But the people who suffer most from the diminution of paternal authority are adolescent males. A recent study by the Department for Children, Schools and Families discovered that white boys do worse in their GCSEs than Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, African and Chinese boys, not to mention girls from any background. The only groups that perform worse are ‘Traveller of Irish Heritage’, ‘Gypsy Roma’ and ‘Pupil in Care’.

I think a lot about how boys are faring in a society where they are treated like second class citizens, along with their dads. I was recently at a spa getting a pedicure and a young boy and his sister were sitting next to their mom. The young boy blurted out, "I can't help it that I'm not a girl!" in response to something they were saying. I was taken back a bit. When did you used to hear boys saying that and in a serious way?

Our society simultaneously thinks it's funny that boys have been regulated to second class citizenship and at the same time, they feel it it their "just desserts." Afterall, they must pay for whatever happened to women in past times. This is cruel and vindictive but worst of all, it is happening because we let it.

Perhaps this Father's Day, we should all think about what it mean to have "a bit more courage," when it comes to helping the next generation of boys succeed. Without courage, we (and they) are lost.

It's about time...

It seems that a men's advocacy group has been started at the University of Chicago:

A group of University of Chicago students think it's time the campus focused more on its men.

A third-year student from Lake Bluff has formed Men in Power, a student organization that promises to help men get ahead professionally. But the group's emergence has been controversial, with some critics charging that its premise is misogynistic.

Others say it's about time men are championed, noting that recent job losses hit men harder and that women earn far more bachelor's and master's degrees than do men.

"It's an enormous disparity now," said Warren Farrell, author of "The Myth of Male Power" and former board member of the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women. He noted, among other things, an imbalance in government and private initiatives that advance the interests of women and girls.

Any group for men or run by men is going to be said to be misogynistic--kind of like anyone who disagrees with Obama is a racist. It's just part of a trend to shut anyone down who disagrees with the politically correct agenda and doesn't willingly submit to the socialist/radical feminist agenda. Luckily, young men like Steve Saltarelli who is president of the group is not listening. The tide is turning.

PJTV: Deadbeat Dads, the recession and divorced men

I interview men's rights activist Glenn Sacks about Deadbeat Dads, his Lifetime TV Campaign, how the recession is hitting men and why non-custodial parents are the only ones whose debts will put them in jail. And do women use the courts as their "private army of vengeance?" Don't miss this important conversation.

You can watch here. Or just click on the picture.

Don't "leave it to the other guy"

Glenn Sacks emailed to let me know about a lawsuit being filed by Fathers and Families, to stop new Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines:

Fathers and Families has filed suit in Federal District Court in Boston to stop the scheduled January 1 implementation of new Child Support Guidelines. The suit seeks a temporary injunction halting the use of the new guidelines until a full hearing can be held. It will be heard before Judge D.P. Woodlock on Monday, January 5 at 10 AM in courtroom 1.....

The new guidelines will cause almost all child support orders to increase substantially — when all factors are considered, middle-class recipients will enjoy a standard of living almost double that of payers who earn about the same amount. In some cases, child support orders will triple, even in cases in which the payer is poor and the child is economically comfortable because the custodial parent earns over $100,000. And in high income cases, the child support order for one child could be nearly $50,000.

Massachusetts is already an expensive place to live; if these new guidelines are passed, it will be harder, mainly for the divorced men in that state. Go take a look here and see what you can do to help. As Dr. Ned Holstein, the executive director of Fathers and Families says, "If you 'leave it to the other guy,' it won’t happen."

Do men have any reproductive rights?

I interviewed Tennessee State Representative Stacey Campfield on his "Baby Daddy Bill" at PJTV. This bill seeks to petition to the court to disestablish paternity after DNA evidence reveals a baby was not sired by the man on the birth certificate. Join us for a fascinating discussion.

The other Glenn and Helen Show

I interviewed men's rights activist Glenn Sacks on PJTV today on why blogging is so important in terms of activism for the men's movement. We talk about the biased ads from JC Pennys showing men put in the doghouse for giving the wrong gift, why men won't stick up for themselves, how to make it politically expensive to bash men in our society and more! You can watch the show here (currently free with no registration). Please support our endeavors at PJTV--for it is one of the few places that will give politically incorrect ideas like ours a place to be heard.

Watch the show here.

Glenn Sacks on his recent DART campaign: "Father-bashing is so prevalent in the media today because there is little political cost to be paid for doing it. We launched the campaign in part because we wanted to show that there is a political cost to demeaning fathers, and in that regard we more than succeeded."

Ask Dr. Helen: Workplace Discrimination Against Men

My PJM column is up:

Reader Len writes in to ask for advice on how to handle discrimination against men in the workplace.

If male, have you dealt with discrimination in the workplace? If so, how did you handle it? Read the column and let us know.

"In general, a restraining order is only enforceable against a law-abiding, non-violent man."

Mike McCormick and Glenn Sacks: Restraining Orders Can Be Straitjackets On Justice:

Women’s advocates and the state Attorney General's office are criticizing a new court ruling which will make it harder for women to get restraining orders against their male partners. Star-Ledger columnist Fran Wood, in her recent op-ed “Don't soften protection for women,” called New Jersey’s Domestic Violence Prevention Act “one of the best statutes in the country,” and said the new ruling could “diminish the ability of domestic violence victims to get the protection they need.”

Certainly abused women need protection and support, but there are many troubling aspects of the DVPA’s restraining order provisions that merit judicial and/or legislative redress.

Under the DVPA, it is very easy for a woman to allege domestic violence and get a restraining order (aka “protection order”). New Jersey issues 30,000 restraining orders annually, and men are targeted in 4/5ths of them. The standard is “preponderance of the evidence” (often conceptualized as 51%-49%), and judges almost always side with the accusing plaintiff.

Under the DVPA, the accuser need not even claim actual abuse. Alleged verbal threats of violence are sufficient, even though it’s almost impossible for the accused to provide substantive contradictory evidence.

The restraining order boots the man out of his own home and generally prohibits him from contacting his own children. Men are cut off from their possessions and property, and some end up in homeless shelters.

Update: Vox Day has more on New Jersey's lack of regard for the Constitution when it comes to men and domestic violence.

Men Talking Back

These comments from the Men's Health article "8 Things She Hates About You" I mentioned in a previous post are spot on (thanks Jeff):

I hope the author's boyfriend reads this: LEAVE THIS WOMAN RIGHT NOW! If this is the kind of girl he's been dating, the boyfriend in the article needs to take a long, deep look in the mirror, and asks himself how to be not such a loser.....Gee, Men's Health as name of magazine is pure irony.

Shorter Lisa Jones: It *IS* all about me.

GEEZ! I cannot believe this is Men's Health! It actually reminds me of Cosmo Magazine. A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT. Strategy does not equal love, it is just not worthy. Why not learn how to avoid being an outdated pain in the nuts princess from high school and start contributing to have a good relationship. *HINT* Communication. If we need to get words out with a spoon for two hours, you are the one who is wrong.


#1: LeMystic hit the nail on the head: Men's Health IS Cosmo for men. (As is "Best Life" and others. Then, there's stuff like "GQ" for metrosexuals who want to be *even more* insecure.) That's why, when I need to feel insecure about my salary or hair or abs or resting heart rate, I read it. Oh, wait -I DON'T need that - So I rarely do.

Plus, if I wanted to be nagged, I'd just go home and misbehave.

#2: That's funny. I don't wait for the third or fourth hour of silent abuse. I leave the house, go somewhere else, after an hour or two. By the time I come back, she's had a chance to get over whatever irrational snit she's in and she's usually glad to see me. (At that point, if what was bothering her really matters, we discuss it like, you know, grownups.)

It is funny that all the articles in Mens Health always and yes I mean always point out the short comings of a male, ie "What you are doing wrong" not what the two of you could do to improve your relationship. I used to read Mens Health for the honest "helpfull" articles you had, now you are like Cosmo for men!!!! Guess that is why I started reading "STUFF magazine" at least they don't make you feel or believe that you are crap just because you don't do something to please a female. HMMMMMM could the editor of Men's Health be female?????

The more magazines like this that get blowback from male readers, the better. Better yet, drop your subscription if you have one and tell them why.

Reality Show Campaign Update

Glenn Sacks has an update on the "Bad Dad" protest campaign: "Last night we launched a protest campaign against Fox's new reality show Bad Dads. By 9 AM this morning, Fox had received over 3,000 letters, faxes and calls. I thank all of you for your participation, and I urge you to call Fox executives...."

If you were one of the 3000 like I was to send a letter or make a phone call, thanks!

Protest Fox's New Reality Show "Bad Dads"

Men's activist Glenn Sacks has put together a press release and information on how to protest Fox's New reality show, "Bad Dads." He has some good information on why the show is harmful to men and their children. Please go by and support this campaign.

"A Dad is More than a Paycheck"

Protein Wisdom is promoting what looks like a very good cause--an Equal Parenting Bike Trek:

A grueling 758 mile cycling trek to raise awareness of a child's fundamental right to be loved, guided, educated and nurtured equally by both fit and willing parents.

There is a news video about one of the fathers, Robert Pedersen, who is riding in the bike trek. Pedersen states in the video, "A dad is more than a paycheck." This is why he is riding to raise awareness of the importance of fathers and the need to change child custody laws--particularly in Michigan. How wonderful. I just sent a small donation to help out with this worthy cause. I hope this is just the beginning of men fighting to change laws that are unjust, unfair, and that harm many children who desperately need dads.