On the morning of April 8th the Federal Court in New York City will hear the oral argument in a Federal suits against the Women's Studies Program at Columbia University.
At first glance this lawsuit seems to be ridiculous. We all know that programs such as this one have been part of social change which has brought well deserved equality to women from the early suffrage movement to where we have seen a viable woman candidate for President of the United States. Certainly in education we have seen the number of women undergraduates in the United States outnumber men.
The number of women in post graduate programs continues to increase, something that I have
certainly seen in my own profession. I have also personally observed this as my wife, daughter and daughter-in-laws have all received professional graduate degrees (two them at Columbia). I know that full equality has not yet been achieved as illustrated by the smaller proportion of women in senior academic posts throughout the nation. All the more reason to continue these outstanding Women's Studies Programs.
Wouldn't you know it, it is a group of men. One of their strongest advocates is a psychiatrist Dr. Edward Stephens who believes that ..."students both male and female, (their) parents and their children, and our nation itself, are all being harmed by the misapplication of monies under Title IX."
The argument of this group, of mostly men, appears to focus on what they have identified as a failure to recognize particular areas where males (both young and old) have been treated unfairly by our social and political system. Particularly, in regard to education, they believe Title IX has been used to gain the resources of the Federal government for gender equality projects for women only. Whereas, in fact, gender equality should apply equally to men in education.
Another spokesperson for unfair treatment to men is Dr. Gordon Finley a psychology professor from Florida. He feels that the Obama administration has bypassed boys and men. As an example he notes that the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed to eliminate the purported gender pay gap, whereas the most recent study by the Department of Labor indicated there was not such a gender pay gap. He stated that in the Obama's Health Care Plan there will be ten Major Offices of Women's Health and zero Offices of Men's Health. He goes on to note that epidemiological health data shows that boys and men are far more in need of special attention as there are higher death rates in men in nine out of the ten of the leading causes of death. There is a greater suicide rate in men and men have a lower longevity.
In areas in addition to health and education , Finley has documented that the President had proposed a 22% increase in funding for female victims of domestic violence on top of the large amount already spent in this area. He refers to research that shows that men and women initiate domestic violence at approximately equal rates and men represent at least 40% of the physically harmed victims. In addition, the federal government declines to fund equal protection and support for battered husbands and battered men.
I don't claim to be knowledgeable in all the statistics that apply to this issue.
I appreciate what the women's movement and particularly what groups within our academic universities have done to influence our understanding of these issues, public opinion and ultimate changes in public policy. University Women's Studies came into being to fill a vacuum in the need to educate students about inequities that have existed. Similarly men's groups have brought attention to disparities in this country as exemplified by the movement to fund research and treatment programs for AIDS which was spearheaded by groups consisting mostly of men.
I don't believe that whatever happens in that Federal Courtroom in New York on April 8th should diminish or undermine the importance of the Women's Study Group at Columbia and at other universities. But perhaps it will bring attention to a deficiency in the needed support of programs for boys and men. We love and value all our children, parents, spouses and friends regardless of gender. Our system of government allows legal and social protest in order to bring about change whenever we detect unfairness to people.
This may be one of those times.
telling us to grow up when you use personal attacks is kind of ironic "silly little girl".
You also may want to look at divorce too. Mine isn't that unusual. A women abusing kids, selling them to their pervert friends for sex and more won't hurt then nearly as bad as letting them live with a father who has been accused of abuse and cleared repeatedly. It is not a "pee-pee" thing but an equality thing and a society which does what is best for our CHILDREN without gender being the most important factor for deciding.
Finally, you may want to look at the official DOJ guideliines for domestic violence arrests. 97% of arrests being men is acceptable but start getting over about 15% being women is an indicator of "gender bias."
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/crime/intimate-partner-violence/practical-implications-research/ch3/gender.htm
"Wouldn't you know it, it is a group of men."
THAT'S WHY.
I think claiming that a women's studies department is discriminatory is far too rash. I have taken women's studies courses with men and they get as much out of them (if not more!) than their female classmates. A more reasonable action would be to encourage "Gender Studies," which would include men, women, transgendered, and inter-sexed individuals.
For information, FAQs, the mission statement for the Foundation for Male Studies:
www.malestudies.org
This is not a fairness issue. When our male population is falling behind
from K through grad school ( check out any of Richard Whitmirer's researched books and articles)
and there is a 60/40 split in college enrollment. We are faced with a staggering loss of human potential that will show up as brides without grooms and males without the educational tools to be part of the 21st century workforce.
This is a woman's issue not a mens rights fight.
Stephens: "This is a woman's issue not a mens rights fight."
With all due respect, I hope the Discipline is more then just a "women's issue"...sounds more like a human issue to me.
To paint something is a "women's issue" just to make it more palatable severely discounts the value of the discipline and sounds more like appeasement to the powers that be. After all, if it is just a women's issue, why should I care? Everything seems to be a women's issue. Besides, why does one have to make something a women's issue just to make it important?
So while I agree that this Discipline should be about more then just politics, you can't really treat the male existence without also seeing the current political atmosphere.
http://www.consad.com/content/reports/Gender%20Wage%20Gap%20Final%20Report.pdf'
if link isnt working then google "consad gender wage gap"
please educate yourself if the only reason that you give to not helping boys out is the "wage gap" which is debunked by the the report i just posted, then please go back to the AAUW where you belong boys deserve the same opportunity girls get in school.
"I cant have much sympathy for boys when they get paid more than girls do"
I honestly dont know how many times I have heard that from a feminist, a common "excuse for ignoring the boy crisis and mens rights in general.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-06/15/content_895414.htm
No, paternity laws that have frequenlty forced men to pay for kids that aren't theirs. Paternity fraud.
Men "earn more" because they work 90% of the overtime and drive longer commutes and work more dangerous jobs and make 92% of job deaths. Women have more options than men to be primary parents and they take that option.
http://www.consad.com/content/reports/Gender%20Wage%20Gap%20Final%20Report.pdf
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/GiveMeABreak/story?id=797045&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
One only has to scan through the initial comments to this article to see prime examples of it in practice. The sexist hostility demonstrated by B Kleitz and Aaror is no less demonstrative of culturally practiced hatred than we earlier saw in those that took the position that African Americans were being "uppity" when they dared to defy the racist culture around them.
I agree with Marc A's pinpoint description of some of the areas of men's lives in need of study, but I don't think that opposition to it is attributable to immaturity. It is learned hatred. These hateful voices will only be silenced when more people regard them for what they really are, the moral equivalent to the Klan and to skinheads.
Misandry is as vile and pernicious as any other form of hatred in human history, and will eventually be retired to the graveyard of tragic human ideals alongside racism, misogyny and others.
Male studies will be a big step in the right direction to that end.
What men can do to counteract the effects of Feminism: http://manhood101.com/principles101.pdf
I recommend two links below for those readers interested in the full piece. The first is recommended because it contains a picture showing the prevailing negative social attitudes which harm and hold back boys, men, and fathers. The second is recommended because the home page contains a diverse array of articles on boys, men, and fathers. Finally, if readers are interested, the third link is to my faculty web page where some of my recent research and scholarly publications are listed.
1. The Gender Silent Majority: http://www.therealitycheck.org/?p=11092
2. The Gender Silent Majority: http://mensnewsdaily.com/2010/02/02/the-gender-silent-majority/
3. Finley, FIU, Faculty Web Page: http://psych.fiu.edu/FacultyStaffPages/Finley/Finley.htm
Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Florida International University
Miami, FL 33199
Mexico (men’s rights march in Mexico City)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZcIL93nTOY
India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/chandigarh/Harassed-men-kin-to-hit-streets/articleshow/5079028.cms
Kenya
http://ipsnews.net/africa/interna.asp?idnews=20858
Ireland
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1222/1229728440856.html
Oxford University
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/5078530.Rallying_call_for_group_championing_men_s_rights/
Jamaica
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Abuse-against-men---MON-EXCH-pg-1-lead-TUE_7423940
Japan
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,562400,00.html?test=latestnews
University of Chicago
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-u-of-c-mens-groupmay19,0,4707353.story
Black Fraternities
http://apa1906.net/PressNewsDetails.php?newsID=90&newsCat=Press%20Release
Australia
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24289828-953,00.html
Norway
http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1924493.ece
Morocco
http://en.afrik.com/article16241.html
Malta
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/consulting_public/fundamental_rights_agency/doc/contribution_ass_mens_rights_en.pdf
That does not mean that I do not support equality as far as equal work for equal pay. It might surprise you that I am VERY against MOTHERS being in the military. I know I will get a lot of bitchy responses to that, but, in MY opinion, mothers should not be in the military, or at least not in any job that would even have a chance of her going someplace her children can't go with her. It's just my opinion, please do not throw bricks through my window or send me anthrax in the mail, o k?
I am glad that I am married to an "old school" man. He expects and receives the same respect from me that he gives me.
My husband is a disabled American Veteran...an Airforce Fireman. I am so very proud of him. And I don't see why as a woman and as his wife I shouldn't be.
But he was never a dead beat, and he never complained about having to take care of his children.
He didn't do it because he had to, he did it because he loved his children and would do whatever necessary to take care of them.
I am happy having a real man for a husband.
You really shouldn't insult men who are better than you.
Someone needs to tell these little boys to grow up.
Even the fact that women still make 30% less than men virtually across the board in every career field.
Even when the quality of their work is equal to or better than her male counterparts.
"Forced labor laws"? What the hell are you talking about? Paternity laws? You mean the law that says if you are the father of a child who doesn't wanna live with the mother, then ya gotta pay child support...those paternity laws?
Pah leese.
"We need a men's studies program, and a men's history program-oh, wait, that would be everything outside the women's studies program, wouldn't it...
Someone needs to tell these little boys to grow up."
Do you really think that women's studies programs are going to be sufficient to understanding men? Those classes have never showed an interest in males, and their name aptly shows that. So, what's wrong with having separate classes and courses for those interested in learning about men? It's a valid academic topic. Why would you deny students the ability to choose a major that interests them, and deny them their right to academic freedom? Obviously women's studies programs are utterly insufficient to understanding gender, as an women are not the only gender, so why push that as the only option for gender studies majors?
You last sentence is what's most striking to me. Why do you equate wanting to learn about men and masculinity to childishness? Is wanting to learn about women and femininity childish to you? And also, you assume what gender it's students are going to be, when you say, "Someone needs to tell these little boys..." As you might be aware men are 40% of college students and women dominate gender studies courses. In all likelihood most of the students for these classes are going to be female. And lastly, why would the gender of the students even matter? Why are you taking that into account?