Feminism & Men: An Alliance for Equal Rights
The idea of feminism for men, to many, seems counterintuitive. The idea that a movement created and sustained completely by women could possibly aid men seems crazy to some, but upon little research one finds that true feminism has been extending a hand toward men for quite some time, and that it is in fact possible to be both male and feminist.
The divide between men and women has been ingrained in our culture, the effects of which are felt immediately after birth. It's a girl! from the mouth of a nurse will yield coos of she's so beautifuls and look at her lovely blonde hair, whereas a declaration of a healthy baby boy will illicit claims of how strong his grip is, how handsome he is already. Clearly, the role of gender norms is strong and far reaching, and dictates our behavior and choices throughout life. From what clothes we wear to the jobs we select to pursue to establishing who does what household chores--gender norms control our lives. Feminism seeks to dismantle this, acknowledging that men should be able to express themselves healthfully without being ridiculed and that women should be able to walk through the streets without fear. It is in this way that feminism seeks to help men, and invites them to join in the fight for feminism and become a force for justice.
The divide between men and women has been ingrained in our culture, the effects of which are felt immediately after birth. It's a girl! from the mouth of a nurse will yield coos of she's so beautifuls and look at her lovely blonde hair, whereas a declaration of a healthy baby boy will illicit claims of how strong his grip is, how handsome he is already. Clearly, the role of gender norms is strong and far reaching, and dictates our behavior and choices throughout life. From what clothes we wear to the jobs we select to pursue to establishing who does what household chores--gender norms control our lives. Feminism seeks to dismantle this, acknowledging that men should be able to express themselves healthfully without being ridiculed and that women should be able to walk through the streets without fear. It is in this way that feminism seeks to help men, and invites them to join in the fight for feminism and become a force for justice.
Feminism's Fight to Protect Men
Society’s standards for men and women are not only demanding, but harmful. Though feminism seeks to dismantle the gender roles that oppress and harm women, men are not immune to it’s harmful effects, either. One of the more concrete ways in which this is seen is the way in which society treats men who have become victims of rape or sexual assault. In a modern world, it is almost shocking that it was not until the year 2012 that men were considered by the FBI to be able to be raped. As a society, we should be appalled at this. The “inability” of men to be victimized is harmful and silencing. In 2012 feminist groups banded together in a campaign called Rape is Rape, which sought to change the FBI definition of rape to be more inclusive of men. In this way, feminism secured a win for men, creating change that supports a dialogue that will continue to defy and destroy harmful gender stereotypes.
The Right of Men to Care for Family
The Family Medical Leave Act was established in 1993 and has strong foundations in men’s issues. Though spearheaded by feminist organizations and fought for under feminism, the Family Medical Leave Act seeks to level the playing field, giving rights to men to take leave off from work to care for a sick family member and still maintain job security.
Before the Family Medical Leave Act was established, there was no guarantee of maintaining one’s job if a parent, spouse, or child grew ill and leave needed to be taken to tend to them. Maryland State Police veteran Kevin Knussman found himself in such a predicament in 1994. When his wife gave birth, Knussman was denied leave to tend to his child because “unless your wife is in a coma or dead,” he could not possibly be the primary caretaker. The assumption that tending to a child is a woman’s job has contributed to the notion that men cannot, should not, or don’t know how to care for their own child. Soon after this denial, Knussman’s wife grew ill. Again Knussman applied for leave and, again, he was denied. Under the Family Medical Leave Act, however, Knussman was able to take the matter to court with the help of the ACLU of Maryland and the ACLU National Women’s Rights Project and was awarded a sex discrimination verdict for emotional damages.
Before the Family Medical Leave Act was established, there was no guarantee of maintaining one’s job if a parent, spouse, or child grew ill and leave needed to be taken to tend to them. Maryland State Police veteran Kevin Knussman found himself in such a predicament in 1994. When his wife gave birth, Knussman was denied leave to tend to his child because “unless your wife is in a coma or dead,” he could not possibly be the primary caretaker. The assumption that tending to a child is a woman’s job has contributed to the notion that men cannot, should not, or don’t know how to care for their own child. Soon after this denial, Knussman’s wife grew ill. Again Knussman applied for leave and, again, he was denied. Under the Family Medical Leave Act, however, Knussman was able to take the matter to court with the help of the ACLU of Maryland and the ACLU National Women’s Rights Project and was awarded a sex discrimination verdict for emotional damages.
The Violence Against (Men and) Women Act and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
There is a common misconception that men cannot be victims of violence. However the Violence Against Women Act now applies to men. Domestic violence against men is a rising issue that is often neglected due to the lack of support and organizations to raise awareness.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), created in 1978, is an organization providing men with the outlet and support group for male victims of domestic violence. According to the NCADV, and in contrast to common conceptions about domestic violence, "One out of fourteen men has been physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabitating partner, boyfriend/girlfriend or date at some point in
their lives," and that approximately "835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually."
A major problem with male domestic violence is that it is not as easily recognized. The NCADV also aims to provide assistance and information to help identify domestic violence.
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), created in 1978, is an organization providing men with the outlet and support group for male victims of domestic violence. According to the NCADV, and in contrast to common conceptions about domestic violence, "One out of fourteen men has been physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabitating partner, boyfriend/girlfriend or date at some point in
their lives," and that approximately "835,000 men are physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually."
A major problem with male domestic violence is that it is not as easily recognized. The NCADV also aims to provide assistance and information to help identify domestic violence.