The Rights Of Man

BREAKTHROUGH WEEK IN THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY FOR MEN AND BOYS

When we look back in some year’s time when it is fully recognised that equality applies to men too, I think all of us involved in the quest for equality for men will look at this week as being
pivotal.

There are a number for reasons for this – men were talked about, it opened the door, and men are walking through it by taking matters in their own hands.

Labour Party

Firstly, there has been the fact that a mainstream party (Labour) are starting to talk about a men’s narrative, even though it is Labour (the party of Harriett Harman, Vera Baird, Yvette Cooper, Margaret Moran, Angela/Maria Eagle, Caroline Flint and others who actively hate men) who have brought in anti-male legislation (encouragement to Cafcass to be biased against fathers) and practices (Minister for Women but no Minister for Men – 16 years and counting...).

The Conservatives dabble but then skulk away (Dominic Raab and David Willetts) and the Lib Dems and in particular Cable wants to stop meritocracy in the boardroom.

So this week, the fact that both Jon Cruddas MP (Labour: Barking and Dagenham) spoke at the IPPR think tank’s meeting in Manchester about Childhood and Family Issues. A key part of Labour’s policy work is to “Valuing a father's family role as highly as his working role; helping men play a larger part in looking after the home and the upbringing of their children”

“The Conservatives have dominated debate about the family with their stereotype of a  feckless underclass of absent fathers. They've concentrated on demonising a small minority and ignored the majority. Many fathers have two basic priorities; their family, and work to improve the lives of their children. And many feel that the Conservatives have failed them on both counts. No support
for fathers, and no jobs.”

Don’t anyone ever forget what Cameron said about Fathers on Father’s Day.

Then on Thursday, Dianne Abbott MP, a Labour MP who certainly has not been a friend
of men, talks about men and the cause of masculinity. Albeit her speech was terribly flawed and stereotypical (a male identity Fight Club masculinity crisis fuelled by Viagra and Jack
Daniels which was statistically demolished by Ally Fogg)

Some quotes were:

“I believe we need to say loudly and clearly, that there is a powerful role for fathers. The truth is that just as loving fathers are a benefit to children, so loving families are a benefit to men. And that the ‘left’ must reclaim the debate about families.

 “Our men have little movement politics to speak of. Many British men have no authentic
voice.”  

While it was welcome that she spoke about these issues it was through the wrong lens.
In that, it was based on that men are the problem and that the problems they face have not been down to (radical) feminism or the fact the government policy (so often an expression of anti-male feminism) has purposely ignored problems that affect men.

It is no good for Abbott and others to complain about falling educational attainment when this and previous governments have chosen to ignore it – the same on suicide, depression, unemployment, men’s health etc. She identifies the problem but is unwilling to look at what causes them or why there have been deliberate attempts (either overt or covert – discrimination by omission) not to do anything about them. All of the problems she highlighted that affected men, were framed as if they were caused by men – a feminist outlook rather than a neutral outlook. It was still based on the age-old premise that men are the problem.

But at least men are being talked about...

Media Coverage - Guardian, BBC 1, BBC 2

Opening the Door

As ever, it takes someone to open the door to allow an initial chink of light, and then there are people ready to step in.

Leading writers in the men’s equality movement, Glen Poole and Ally Fogg, took that opportunity.
Gen had two articles published (one in the Guardian and another in the News Statesman) and Ally was featured on the free thought website, both talking about the issues raised this week and also Glen talking about the barriers (including the problem there is for feminism) men face. 

In addition to the open challenges made by Glen and Ally, a range of other commentators jumped in to support Glen and Ally’s premise or to argue against Abbot’s stereotypes.

Other commentators include Max Wind-Cowie, Ian Jack, Tony Parsons, Jake Wallis Simons (Abbot gave a “has given a horrendously matronising and ham-fisted speech entitled "Britain's crisis
of masculinity.”), Amol Rajan, The Huffington Post, Heartfield, Belinda Brown, After Nyne and Tony
Parsons again.  

Of course no one was naive enough to think it would be all one way, and the more people start to talk about male inequality, the more likely anti-male feminists (male and female) will fight back – they have careers in male-bashing to hang onto, remmeber. Laurie Penney (who said Glen Poole’s article was based on the tackling the evils of feminism – probably the most laughable and desperate comment ever published in the Guardian), Suzanne Moore and Matt Hill who believes feminism is the answer.

Walking through it

Glen Poole sent an email around this week outlining a number of events where the growing men and boys sector are “doing it for themselves”.

There is no point complaining about the need for equality for men or ending discrimination against them or that people ignore the problems men and boys face nelss people are doing something positive and practical about it. The email is set out at the end.

In addition, Mike Buchanan held his first meeting for his Justice for Men and Boys (and the women who love them) political party in Bedford.

Again, rather than being passive, it is about being active and controlling the agenda and changing society’s views and providing solutions.

Labour have raised the issued, starting the debate – others have taken it forward and given it a wider airing – but more importantly others are providing solutions. A pivotal week - a week to remember

Posted by Skimmington

 

Notice for people helping men and boys....

This is a short email update to make sure you know about three events for people like you who are committed to improving the lives of men and boys in the UK:

This year’s Third National Conference for Men and Boys is taking place in September over five days covering issues like health, mental health, fatherhood, education, male mentoring, criminal justice, social care, religion, personal development, building the men and boys sector  and much, much
more…..

To find out about the UK’s Third National Conference for Men and Boys in September and book
your early bird tickets click here now

This year’s Men’s Health Week takes place during June and Helping Men will be marking the week by hosting its Helping Men Get Help workshop in Brighton on Wednesday 12th June. This one-day course is designed for people like you who may want to develop their ability to help more men and boys to
access or engage with the services and projects you run

To find out how you can come and take part in the Helping Men Get Help workshop in June and buy a half-price ticket today click here now

Finally a reminder that International Men’s Day takes place on Tuesday 19^th November and is a great platform who you to promote the work you do with men and boys, or to help you connect more men
and boys to your work

The theme of this year’s International Men’s Day is Keeping Men and Boys Safe and you can use the
day to promote any theme you want as long as it’s helping to improve the lives of men and boys in the UK.To find out more about International Men’s Day in November click here now

MOTHERS ARE OVERSEAS CHILD ABDUCTORS IN THREE IN FOUR CASES - WHY IS IT A SECRET?

When Reunite International published its figures earlier this year that showed that 70% of parents who abduct their children and take them abroad are mothers, many of us in with an interest in this were not surprised. You only have to be aware of the problems faced by fathers who call organisations like Reunite or Families Need Fathers to know about this.

The Guardian covered the story with two examples  also this poor chap talks about it on BBC Men's Hour about his abducted daughter (and not the son - radical feminists are rejoicing) who is now living in Tunisia.

Back in December, the BBC published a story that  according to the FCO research, "74% of people thought fathers were most likely to abduct their children but statistics from Reunite International suggest 70% of their cases concern mothers taking the child."

The number of litigation and disputes is also on the increase.

What is staggering though is that firstly the lack of awareness that mothers are the main abductors in three of four cases where the children are taken abroad. Such is the anti-male society we live in and the way that society (pushed by radical feminists) have demonised men that anything negative to do with children and parents is automatically assumed to be down to fathers and men.

This is of course not helped when the litigation results came out this month and there was much discussion about them but no one wanted to make the connection to mothers - it was like some sort of dirty secret. Nothing on Mumsnet?

Why is it a secret? If the statistics showed it was three in four men - it would be front pages news.

Posted by Skimmington

 

 

NEWS UPDATE

Sorry everyone for letting things slip the past three weeks- its been hellish at work. Hopefully things are better now. Anyhow, here are some latest news and thanks to those who have supplied them:

Mike Buchanan: Compendium of recent media interviews and his article on Politics.co.uk - Some of the opposition to Mike's comments show the sexism that in endemic against men.

BBC News (Kent): Rochester nightclub's cleavage stunt condemned - Free entry for women to the nightclub again even if somewhat unsavoury

BBC News: Male identity crisis not due to feminism (Diane Abbott MP)

BBC News: Boys suffer poor body image say teachers (Katherine Sellgren)

BBC News: Helen Grant Minister to overhaul community sentencing to make them more female friendly - More inistitutional bias, can you imagine the government looking at more male-friendly sentencing? Fuller interview in Independent and you can see this in action for Vicky Pryce.

A Voice for Men: Spanish Feminist Establishment is shaking

Daily Telegraph: UCAS men are becoming the disadvantaged group (Tim Ross)

Guardian: False allegations are few and far between (Kier Starmer) - Pure mischievous bias from the laughable misandric Directory of Public Prosecutions. Full press release here. 

Daily Mail - Women lose out in pension revolution  - As Groan says "Typical; reporting by the DM. Leads off with 'poor women' headline yet the actual story is rather different as the women concerned will still be able to claim their pension earlier than men in this age cohort. A fact never explained by the DM. Of course they will also, on average, enjoy a longer life."

Huffington Post : Female Tory MP's tell Cameron to appoint more women 

Daily Mail - Butler Sloss apogises to F4J

 For other good sources of news - please add Helping Men and Fighting Feminism to your favourites amongst others.

Posted by Skimmington 

PARISH NEWS: FAMILIES NEED FATHERS CALLS FOR SUPPORT

Dear Supporter

Tomorrow, proposed shared parenting legislation will be debated in Parliament. You can help to ensure that this becomes law.

Section 11 of the Children and Families Bill sets out a presumption of shared parenting for consideration by Parliament. It states that family courts are "to presume, unless the contrary is shown, that involvement of that parent in the life of the child concerned will further the child's welfare."

With the Second Reading of the Children and Families Bill scheduled for 25 February, and more detailed work on the Bill to take place in the coming months, it is crucial that we ensure that policy makers remain aware of how important shared parenting is to children of separated parents and their
families.

To do this, we need your help.

There are two ways that you can make sure your voice is heard. The first is to take part in the Public Reading of the Children and Families Bill online; follow this link and leave your comment, and these will be made available to the MPs on the Bill Committee.

The second thing you can do is to make contact with your local MP, and let them know why they should support this Bill. Speak or write to them, briefly explain your experiences, and why you believe a presumption of shared parenting would help to prevent children from having a relationship with a loving parent damaged through no fault of their own in future.  If you're not sure how
to contact your MP, you can do it through www.theyworkforyou.com -  just type in your postcode and it will bring up details for your MP and an option to send them an email.

If contacting your MP, be sure to be courteous, focus only on the issue of shared parenting, and explain that shared parenting is not about parental rights; it is about ensuring children are not the victims of parental separation, and that they can continue to benefit from a loving relationship
with both parents wherever possible.

This legislation is close to becoming law; it will not help those that have gone before, but it could help to ensure that the next generation of children do not lose touch with a parent without justification. 

You can help us to make this happen. Please take a few minutes this weekend to comment on the Bill, or get in touch with your MP!

Best wishes,

Families Need Fathers

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2012 REVIEW OF MALE INEQUALlTY AND DISCRIMINATION IN THE UK

Thank you to everyone who has supported the site (despite the sometime intermittent service) and this year (the seventh year it has been going), the site had 83,000 page views and 160 published pieces.

Thanks to everyone who contributed either in submitting articles or in commenting upon them. I have also updated some of the groups on the left hand side of this page - please remember to send over any that are missing.

In terms of what progress has been made in male equality and ending male discrimination, this year can again be seen as two steps forward one step back. The gain has mainly due to the efforts of individuals and groups taking up the mantle of male equality through organising themselves and not relying on politicians or other groups to do it for them. As we know, institutional sexism remains rife in Britain, so the welcome realisation is that we cannot rely on those same institutions for help.

In terms of the positives on particular issues, there have been some.

Family Law reform is moving forward with the concept of shared parenting being the accepted direction of travel (Parliamentary Briefing and subsequent announcement). This was despite the Norgrove Report denigrating shared parenting - though the fact Norgrove remains Chair of the Family Justice Review Board is surely untenable.

Boys Education remains the truth that dare not say its name. While boys continue to lag behind girls, the public policy silence remains deafening, despite some starting to publicly recognise it as a concern. The one glimmer of light is that the government is to bring back O-Level type examinations (one of the first big topics this site set out) however this will not be until 2017 (in terms of first exams), so that means 30 years of destruction has befallen the education of boys by bringing in an examination system wholly unacceptable to the way boys learn. The problems facing boys was eloquently laid out in this report and can be seen feeding through into pay.

The re-introduction of O-levels though is more down to Gove's desire for rigour rather than an acceptance that the education establishment has got it wrong for three decades and left generations of boys behind.

Women rejecting discrimination and excuses - we know that modern-day radical feminists that dominate the BBC, the Guardian, the senior parts of the civil service/academia/publc sector, the media and politics (including their "White Knight's") are out of touch with the thoughts and needs of modern women. Especially those who actually like men and want their fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, boyfriends etc to succeed. Research at the beginning of the year showed this as did this report at the end of the year.

Three issues that were never 'seen' as affecting men have also started to be recognised - human trafficking, forced marriage/honour violence and circumcision (and here). The latter has really taken off with the German court verdict and the manslaughter of a baby in the North West.

Lastly, this was the year that male equality issues started to enter the mainstream. In addition, to the above issues and groups working within them, the 'movement' started to mature. We saw the fruits of sensible campaigning by father's groups, Mike Buchanan's work at the Campaign for Merit in Business challenging the status quo leading to Select Committee appearances and even campaigns against the NSPCC succeeding. We have also seen campaigns against Virgin in Australia.

The National Conference for Men and Boys continues to grow, as does International Men's Day in the UK and also the celebration of Fathers on Father's Day. This maturity can be seen against the growing desperation of anti-male feminist groups trying to keep their requests for discrimination against men and special treatment on the political agenda.

On the negative side, we saw the continuing clamour for quotas and the ending of meritocracy over boardoom appointments gathering pace, however, while the governmet refused to accept EU legislation, there remains the social stigmatisation of companies if they do not comply with an 'unofficial quota'. Some have given in.

Mike Buchanan's campaign for Merit in Business has stood up to the argument mainly I think from a biological determinist sense, while this site's approach is mainly that quotas etc are discriminatory in blocking men because of their gender not talent and are against the fundamental tenets of equality.

Other areas that continue to be ignored are the male suicide rate, men's health especially on continual delays on a national screening programme, male victims of domestic abuse, male homelessness, male unemployment and the general demonisation of men by society, the media and groups such as the Fawcett Society, the Guardian and the government. We still have mobile phone sites defaming men's rights websites. There is still no Minister for Men, the most visible expression of anti-male equality (15 years).

What I am hoping for 2013, is that the growing maturity of the male equality sector continues with new sensible groups being created (only where there is a gap) or men and women joining existing ones.

There needs to be the celebratory groups such as International Men's Day and Father's Day, conferences, campaigns on particular issues, practical goups (like CALM, FNF, ManKind Initiative, Centre for Separated Families etc) providing practical on the ground solutions and also probably a more political group (not necessarily  political party).

The growing desperation of anti-male feminist groups like the Fawcett Society will be called into question mainly by women who are rejecting their hatred of the men they share their lives with.

This is what I would like to see so that come this time next year - we are starting to see equality for men, and the barriers that prevent them enjoying equality being further dismantled.

Posted by Skimmington

PS Forgot about this article

 

 

CHRISTMAS EVE NEWS UPDATE

Sorry for slackness, here are a few from the last week or so and thank you to those who sent them on.

Daily Telegraph: So you think you know about homeless (Cathy Newman) - No one wants to see anyone homeless, man or woman, but what would be good is to see an article about why 85% of those who are homeless are men and what is to be done about them - and of course those women in the same boat. There is a lazy acceptance that men being homeless is Ok and acceptable.

Daily Telegraph: Sexual display around board table is why women won't succeed (Louisa Peacock) - Coverage of Steve Moxon and Mike Buchanan at a recent select committee.

Daily Telegraph:  How Louise Mensch and the A-List will make it harder for women (Cathy Newman) - Ms Newman is taking on the we need special treatment and discrimination against men mantle in the Telegraph.

Daily Telegraph: Will Jimmy Saville case put men off from childcare (June O'Sullivan)

Daily Telegraph: Fathers earn more, mothers earn less (Patrick Hennessy) - Proof of the strength of the family unit and the clear cause of the diminishing gender pay gap - not discrimination against women.

BBC: Five things about women in the press - Nothing about all men being portrayed as idiots or potential sex offenders.

BBC: Child Abductions up 88% - FCO press release but Huffington Post says 70% of abductions are by mothers so why is this not in the headline. If it was 70% men then the headline would 'fathers responsible for spiralling numbers of child abduction cases'.

Daily Mail: Connors' family jailed for slavery (Mark Deull et al) - Now lets never hear a story about slavery in Britain without men being a core part of the narrative.

Front Page (US): Women's Studies and the spread of men hatred (Ben Bawer)- Plus watch the link to the Toronto video to see full-on misandry.

BBC News: Teenage fathers feel marginalised - Research by Barnado's show how teenage fathers are ignored and never thought of by the authorities. Groundbreaking work by the charity not only because of the research itself but just the fact it is putting it out there and speaking up for fatherhood. The report says the authorities are "driving fathers apart from their children through a ‘culture where fathers are not valued."

Daily Telegraph: A dad is tenth most wanted Christmas present (Hannah Furness): Perhaps if their mothers had not gone through the family courts to stop them enjoying life with their fathers then this would not be an issue.

BBC: Nurse kills baby in botched circumcision and calls for a ban

BBC: Half of men to get cancer by 2027 - The story touches upon but does not delve into why there is no effective screening for men and why there is such a lack of pace in making it happen. The Men's Health Forum are as pathetic as ever, blaming men for not getting screening for bowel cancer rather than taking on the authorities who do not tell men it is available.

The Sun: X Factor glasses ex and avoids jail (Alice Everley) - Equality in British courts and this laughably weak sentence shows what happens when you have campaigns against women going to prison. The subliminal message gets to judges.

The Guardian: More protection needed in family courts (Amelia Hill): Notice how the judge mentions crimes committed by 'fathers' and others by 'parents' - I wonder if the 'parents' were mothers but it would do to mention that in the Guardian.

Daily Mail: More boys put off university than girls due to hike in fees (Laura Clark) - Mary Curnock Cook, UCAS chief executive, said: ‘The fact that women remain more likely to enter higher education than men are  to apply is a striking and worrying finding.’ So what is she and government going to do about it? 

The Guardian - Education is leaving boys behind (Ally Fogg)

Merry Xmas everyone and thank you for your support.

Posted by Skimmington

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

SOCIETY CONTINUES TO LOOK AT LIFE THROUGH A FEMALE LENS

One key area where men are discriminated against is the discrimination by omission problem and another is where gender-neutral news are viewed just through a female lens.

Two clear examples were seen this week.

The first example is where the governement announced that parental leave will bcome more flexible so that the 12 months leave could be shared by the mother and father. The quote in the media from Clegg was "That means women up and down the country realising their potential, keeping their indepdence, fulfilling their dreams'. No mention of fathers and their potential.

Another example, is the madness of this school who stopped a schoolboy taking part in Movember based on the fact girls would not be able to take part. Not because there was some break in discipline or uniform but it was an issue because of the female perspective placed up on it.

Posted by Skimmington

 

 

NEWS UPDATES

Thank you to everyone for their patience - here are a few from the past two weeks and thanks to those that have sent them through or added them in to the comments on the Citizen Khan story.

Daily Mail - The real price of feminism (Bianca London) Amazing misandry in the article by the journalist - this shows the cake and eat attitude of modern-day anti-male feminism. The journalist says you are not a true gentleman if you expect the woman to go Dutch.

The Independent - Take a bow, Sir Roger Moore (Ally Fogg)

Daily Telegraph - Domineering men face domestic violence proscutions (Martin Beckford) and Daily Mail - Stopping your wife having a bank account could be domestic abuse (James Chapman) More misandric headlines when the changes are clearly gender-neutral (although we know they may not be in practice) although any official involvement of the NSPCC in the Youth Panel means bias as boys as victims will be ignored as they are only seen by them as perpetrators.

Daily Mail - Forgiveness saved my life (Deborah Arthurs)

Daily Mail - Mother-of-four, 34, had sex with two schoolboys while her toddler slept in the  same (Larisa brown) No equality in justice as there is now way she should not be in jail.

Order Order - Disolve companies that do not meet gender quotas (Guido Fawkes)

BBC - Samaritans report that men born in their 60's and 70's at risk of suicide and Daily Mail - Why male suicide rates go up (Tamara Cohen) - The report is here.

Financial Times - Business leaders urge government to stand firm against boardroom quotas (Brian Groom)

Daily Telegraph - The BBC need more women (George Entwhistle) and then he tries to backtrack which we know is false -  his views are those that he stated first time. Watch this space.

Daily Telegraph - Thousands of boys are behind at reading (Graeme Paton)

Daily Telegraph - Father wins right to know who false accusers were (John Bingham)

Posted by Skimmington

 

CITIZEN KHAN IS NOT RACIST IT'S MAN-HATING MISANDRY

Whenever a show like Citizen Khan comes on the TV, the Guardian and various politically correct types get very twitchy - accusing the BBC and others of racism. The absurdity of it is that if the ethnicity of the character was changed, and it was just a white Christian man in a Christian family they wouldn't bat an eyelid - such is their hypocrisy. They also go into some ideologically torment because one of the writers is actually Asian so they cannot heap racism at them.

They had probably written their critical pieces before they had even seen it.

Some (good and bad) articles are here - Guardian, Independent, Telegraph and BBC

The bigger issue though is that it is another example of television (and the media in general) portraying men and fathers as idiots.

The main character is made to look like a buffoon but he is the one that came to the country (the show's words not mine), worked his backside off to create a business and a home for his wife and family - and he is portrayed as an idiot.

It is another example in the long line of characters that show men as idiots and used to undermine men and fathers. Where is the equivalent about a women and mother.

Citizen Khan is not racist it's men-hating.

Posted by Skimmington

PS am away for two weeks days (in Ireland) from Monday so blogging may be light from me.