Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Can men be feminists?
Can men be feminists? This question was asked of me yesterday in class. My answer is that not only can men be feminists, men must be feminists if we are to achieve equality. [Then we all may become humanists.]
Men have female relatives--mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, wives-- friends, and lovers, who they would not like to see treated with disrespect, who they would like to see receive equal pay versus the 25% discount that most employers take if their employees are female. Unpaid labor --parenting, volunteering, homemaking, tending the family garden--would be valued.
If men were feminists, then they also would have more freedom and liberties, more social leeway. Masculinity would not be so narrowly defined as to limit men's possibilities. Father's rights to custody of their children would be common place for instance--some men are naturally more parental than other people, including some women.
Women's Rights are Human Rights.
Please urge your senators to ratify the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women--over 175 countries have signed this, the US is one of the only developed countries that has not. The UN committee that oversees CEDAW is having its 35th annual meeting Mat 15th to June 2nd. To read this document go to : www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/
Men have female relatives--mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, wives-- friends, and lovers, who they would not like to see treated with disrespect, who they would like to see receive equal pay versus the 25% discount that most employers take if their employees are female. Unpaid labor --parenting, volunteering, homemaking, tending the family garden--would be valued.
If men were feminists, then they also would have more freedom and liberties, more social leeway. Masculinity would not be so narrowly defined as to limit men's possibilities. Father's rights to custody of their children would be common place for instance--some men are naturally more parental than other people, including some women.
Women's Rights are Human Rights.
Please urge your senators to ratify the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women--over 175 countries have signed this, the US is one of the only developed countries that has not. The UN committee that oversees CEDAW is having its 35th annual meeting Mat 15th to June 2nd. To read this document go to : www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/
