VICTORY FOR FATHERS AS NSPCC ADMITS DEFEAT IN ITS DEMONISATION CAMPAIGN

Sometime ago I wrote about how by campaigning and complaining responsibly, rationally
and without being too inflammatory (albeit I know it can be hard) will bear fruit. Also
campaigning using the language of equality, using hard facts and ensuring support from women are other key success factors.

Tonight, via friends from the UKFRM Yahoo Group I was emailed the news that Sean Geoghegan has secured a brilliant success against the NSPCC.

This Christmas they have been running a campaign that states "All I want for Christmas is daddy to stop hitting me".

This is despite the fact that their own figures (in a post by the ManKind Initiative chairman on the group) show that mothers are more likely to be the perpetrators of violence against their children, especially so against their daughters. We have also shown the way the NSPCC ignores their own figures here before. The NSPCC campaign was only aimed at abuse fathers not mothers (or mothers and fathers).

The NSPCC (who have form as we know in not telling the whole story - see NSPCC letter in News Update) had got tetchy when they received complaints and issued this statement.

 Now they have capitulated completely and withdrawn the ad in an email to Sean.

 We are always grateful for feedback on our campaigns and the one you're referring to has generated some interesting points for consideration. There has been much discussion about the `All I want for Christmas…' adverts and, on reflection, we have decided to discontinue these specific adverts but
continue with others such as those for our `Letter from Santa' product.

The NSPCC firmly believes that gender bias plays no part in preventing cruelty to children and we have always said that men and women are both capable of cruelty to children. And of course both parents are equally important in protecting children and giving them a happy and healthy upbringing. The NSPCC works with both fathers and mothers who are struggling with a range of problems, through our family support and parenting services http://bit.ly/11FMVf9.

We really appreciate you taking the time to contact us with your feelings about this campaign. It would be sad to think that we have offended anyone through an activity which was only ever intended to improve the lives of vulnerable children around the UK.

I hope that our removal of this campaign helps to reaffirm our impartiality  when it comes to gender and our support of the positive roles both fathers and mothers can play in children's lives.

This is a significant victory not just in itself, but also in setting a precedent, within both the NSPCC and other organisations who wish to demonise men/fathers. Especially so when their own figures do not stack up.

One issue remains of course is their whole thought process in terms of deciding to run such a one-sided ad which actually went against their own evidence. Institutional sexism is the only conclusion. 

Sean and those others that complained in the right spirit have secured a landmark victory and all fathers (and all those who support fathers) should be grateful to them.

 Posted by Skimmington

Comments

[Mike Buchanan]

What an inspiring victory. Great stuff. This war will be won the way all wars are won - one battle at a time.

Mike Buchanan
ANTI-FEMINISM LEAGUE
http://fightingfeminism.wordpress.com

[JOHN TAYLOR]

I agree 100% with your comment Skimmington re:
Sometime ago you wrote about how by campaigning and complaining responsibly, rationally and without being too inflammatory (albeit I know it can be hard) will bear fruit. Also campaigning using the language of equality, using hard facts and ensuring support from women are other key success factors...

Sean Geoghegan's victory is commendable...

[scarecrow]

This is a success for all involved, and shows well-reasoned arguments based on the facts will always be a better way than inflammatory, divisive, men-vs-women rhetoric. I hope the good work of the various MRAs involved continues to bear fruit.

[Stuart]

Even I will STFU and tip my hat to that one...but it doesn't excuse the rest of what happened here recently.

As some others have spotted things going on in MRM circles...

" Or perhaps there is a profit motive. Maybe by giving fems a place to spew their BS he doubles donations. AVfM is owned by an LLC. That is "for profit" and owned (majority) by Paul. "

[Groan]

Institutional sexism successfully challenged. Well done. This form of misandry is all too frequent from agencies that should know better. The facts can only speak if people keep them in sight.

[Antonio]

I just receive a leaflet through the post, it's a small booklet of 6 pages
Front page there is a cartoon girl on the phone saying
"Hello......can you help me?

Turn on 2nd page there is another girl in a corner on the phone saying
"He's banging on the door."
"He's going to do it again."
"Will you help me tell him to stop?"

Turn on 4th page there is a boy chatting on a laptop. It reads
"My dad won't stop hurting me"
"I'm scared"
"Will you help me tell him to stop?"

Turn on 6th page and there is an old lady on the phone
"I hear shouting all the time"
"I've seen bruises too"
"Am i doing the right thing by calling?"

On every odd page next to thepictures there is the NSPCC saying yes and asking to give just 2 pounds a month

Everyone in my building has received one i am asking everyone to complain to ASA

Just let you know to see if others have received the same

[John Kimble]

Thanks for sharing Antonio, I think such a leaflet might merit an article on this blog.

[paul parmenter]

Yes, be very careful. Don't celebrate a victory when you have merely won a skirmish and forced the enemy to withdraw a step. If they are only regrouping to attack you again, you have not won anything.

Clear evidence remains that within the NSPCC lies a considerable degree of extremely spiteful misandry, among a hard core of influentual people who are more interested in demonising men (particularly fathers) than protecting abused children.

We are still a long way away from solving this problem. Until the institutionalised misandry of the NSPCC and so many other groups is well and truly beaten, it will be impossible to save the majority of children from abuse. Because the misandrists are deliberately creating a smokescreen behind which the main perpetrators oF that abuse can hide and continue their evil work, unseen and unchallenged.