The Rights Of Man

REVIEW OF RADIO 4 PLAY AND DOCUMENTARY ON MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

As stated at the weekend, BBC Radio 4 ran two programmes today about male victims of domestic abuse.

The play called Believe Me was extremely moving and showed the slow burn of domestic abuse that many male and female victims face. And it was very clever in the set up so it was not obvious what was to happen but showed the gut wrenching nature not only of the abuse Tyrone suffered but also the scandal of false allegations and the pain that many men suffer because of them.

All too real for so many men.

I have to say congratulations to the playwright and Radio 4 for making the play although there was not much made in the BBC's pre-coverage about the false allegation issue which was absolutely central to this.

If domestic abuse against men is one Britain's last taboos then false allegations by female perpetrators of domestic abuse against men, is the last of the last taboos.

In terms of the documentary, the Last Refuge, threading the case studies through the documentary, especially the one used throughout, added real weight. As did the comments made by the Dyn Project who added real depth and knowledge to the subject. Even though the commentator from Dyn raised the issue of screening, he at least explained why and also raised the fact that there may be a need to screen females as well. I liked the point about reiterating that many men get arrested even though they are the victim - not often you hear that on national radio!

One of the commentators was bizarre though - the guy from the Nottingham Domestic Abuse Forum, who seemed more intent in trying to undermine the case for support and awareness of male victims. His research and assertions involved 14 (yes, 14) people, that his screening tool is well established (has anyone heard of it?) and the way he bizarrely tried to dumb down men by saying the figure is the 2000 Scottish Crime Survey were wrong (based on research of 22 people!!) and that male refuges were never full.

The person from Dyn then contradicted him as obviously did the explanation at the start of the programme from the Montgomery Centre which offers housing support for men.The question is why was he included if the show was about supporing male victims? However, it was perhaps useful in showing the type of misandry that male victims face from many in the domestic abuse establishment.

The show did not really reach any conclusions but having said all of that, it is better it was aired because again it is another example of the issue being raised and placed on the radar.

We are still waiting though for the political elite and its officer class to take the plight of male victims seriously...

Posted by Skimmington

FEMINISTS ARGUING

Seeing feminists falling out with each other is always a bizarre treat but Noami Wolf, Kirsty Wark (BBC 2 Newsnight) and Louise Bagshawe MP do so on Newsnight. It was all based on Noami's Guardian piece.

It was never clear what exactly was being said but Noami did say feminism is about equality not sure radical anti-male feminists think so. Would be also much easier if defendents were anonymous unless guilty but it is clear that with Conservative MP's like Louise Bagshawe there is no chance of men getting a fair hearing in this government. She is on the backbench but not for long no doubt.

Posted by Skimmington

BBC RADIO 4 TO HIGHLIGHT MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE WHILE WELSH EQUALITIES COMMISSION IGNORES THEM

The BBC return to the subject of male victims of domestic abuse on Monday 10th January 2011. On BBC Radio 4 at 14.15pm there is a play called Believe Me   and then later on at 20.00 there is a 30 minute documentary called the Last Refuge.

Plays on this subject tend to deal with the issue respectfully but documentaries can be very hit and miss especially as it depends on who the production have interviewed and how it has been edited. Some trepidation can already be seen by the fact that the first helpline they advertise is for Respect who are only interested in men who beat up women. So let's see what happens when they are broadcast but the documentary has more potential to actually damage the plight of men.

Please put both in your diaries for Monday and they should be available for 10.

On another front, I was alerted this week to a response from the Equalities Commission for Wales about a complaint from the charity for male victims of domestic abuse, The ManKind Initiative. The charity complained about a campaign (Domestic abuse is your business) the Commission ran aimed at Welsh businesses which grossly ignored male victims in Wales. A press release is here.

This is a classic example of the covert discrimination by omission perpetrated by organisations such as the Oxymoronically (a new phrase (c) Skimmimgton!)) 'Equalities' and Human Rights Commission who are not remotely interested in issues around male discrimination. Here we have a campaign that does not mention male victims, how can this be justified?

Well the ManKind Initiative asked them and all they got was an ideological gendered approach to domestic abuse that had nothing to do with equality. They really do not care and are proud to say it!

It shows the barriers that male victims and those who support them have to face at a policy level let alone at a practical level. Let us hope that the BBC does not add further barriers in its documentary.

Posted by Skimmington

ARTICLES ROUND-UP

As is traditional, there have been a number of articles/stories that the site has not covered or linked through to over the past month or so. A list is set out below:

UK Poverty - Suicide statistics show 80% of young adult suicides are by young men

Daily Mail - Amber Portwood charged with domestic violence

Prince's Trust - Youth happiness

Oxford University - Men's weight

Porstmouth News- DV policy is a war on men

Daily Mail- Amanda Bradley jailed for false allegation

BBC News- Emma Bunden jailed for false allegation

BBC News- Merthyr 16 year old jailed for false allegation

Daily Mail - Judge Coleridge says women should have children taken away if they do not allow contact with father.

BBC News - 61 women sent to trial over false allegations

Posted by Skimmington

 

NEW BOOK - CATHERINE HAKIM ON FEMINIST MYTHS AND MAGIC MEDICINE

Dr Catherine Hakimis one of this site's heroines because she is never fails to stand her ground and challenging the myths of the feminists. She is certainly up there with people like Erin Pizzey.

This week she launched via the Centre for Policy Studies think tank, her latest publication - Feminist Myths and Magic Medicine. This challenges the whole concept of the gender pay gap (an issue this site constantly refers to as a stick to beat men with and give special treatment to women/girls over men/boys), those who say employement differences are to patriachal discrimination and that there are no differences in the outlooks of men and women in the workplace

What is even better is that it is free to download from their site.

 
 

What has also been so great is the fact that it has put the issue in the public eye and generated reams of coverage and discussion including Daily Mail, Daily Mail 2, Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph 2, Daily Mail 3, Daily Telegraph 3, Daily Telegraph 4, Daily Mail 4 (nothing in the Guardian!)

Posted by Skimmington

ARTICLES AND CONTRIBUTORS NEEDED

As this weblog is aimed at creating a central place for information, discussion and debate on male gender discrimination and sexual discrimination in the UK; articles, contributions, information or news would be gratefully received.

Your Articles/Contributions/Information/News

If you wish to write an article, review or contribution; or have any links, news or information; then please contact/send to The Editor at [email protected]

Articles/Contributions

• The approximate word limit on any article/contribution would be c750 words or less
• Any links to other sites/blogs should be included in any article/contribution if available
• Pseudonyms are allowable if you prefer an article to be anonymous
• No libellous comments please
• The views expressed in contributed articles are those of the authors, not those of the editor
• Anti-women material will not be permissable

Information/News

• If you have any information, news, articles or new organisiations in the web/blogosphere, then please supply the address so this site can provide a link.

Posted by Skimmington

 

ACTION FOR MALE EQUALITY IN BRITAIN IN 2011

On New Year's Eve, the site contemplated on what had happened in 2010 and how it was another disappointing and bad year for equality for men.

The issue is what to do about it.

It has to be borne in mind that politicians, the central state machinery (government departments including the NHS, Cafcass, Justice Department, the Home Office and the oxymoron departments - the Government 'Equalities' Office and the 'Equalities' and Human Rights Commission) and local arms of the state (police and local councils) have absolutely no interest in ensuring there is equality for men and boys.

Joining Up

One response has to be either to set up or join existing organisations that promote men and boy's issues and believe that equality means equality for men too (and taking care not to be anti-women).

There are plenty (they are listed in the side bar on the left hand side of the page) and help in what ever way you can - whether paying a subscription, being active in the charity and help with fundraising.

Taking the establishment on

Sometimes it can be easy to moan about things without doing something about it and there have plenty of examples this year of men and organisations taking on the establishment.

The gender equality duty and the soon to be established single equality duty means that all public authorities have to ensure their services support men and boys (as well as women and girls). If they do not, there are legal remedies.

Raising the profile

One area that needs to be significantly enhanced is helping to raise the profile of these organisations, not just in the media, but by word of mouth. Using your own networks, or social media (including Facebook etc). Too many which we think are mainstream issues still remain underground with the public at large. Spreading the message is vital.

Often these organisiations struggle with public relations and variants of it. Such as writing/issuing press releases, producing/publishing research, spreading the message around to the front-line and to the public.

If you have those skills in these areas, join up.

Umbrella group

One of the overall missing pieces of the jigsaw is the lack of a central hub organisation or site for men and boys - a rival to the Fawcett Society. This site acts as a disucssion site of issues as they arise and also pushes its own. But an organisation is needed (and certainly not the awful anti-male Coalition on Men and Boys which was set up by anti-male feminists and membership is only allowed if you sign up to its pro-feminist agenda). At least a website would be a good start.

Summary

Any other ideas and thoughts are welcome of course, but we are getting nowhere fast. All those men and women who want to support men and boys in the UK, need to take the action themselves because the establishment is not interested.

A few points have been raised here and happy for a discussion on anything additional.

Posted by Skimmington