University branded “disgusting” and “shameful” over decision to cancel Men’s Day celebration row #InternationalMensDay

TracyMorganFreeman · 2015-11-17T13:05:33+00:00

Ananna Zaman, YUSU Women’s Officer and one of the signatories of the letter, rejected an idea to create a Men’s Officer role. She said: “When you’ve got 4 out 5 Sabbatical officers who to my knowledge are cis men and when there are 9 colleges with male welfare representatives, what more of a team could you need to help you address issues faced by men?”

Of course she pulled the old "here are some old men that do stuff, and of course if a man is in power they will regardless of role or political affiliation advocate for men" card. It's nothing more than misdirection and unfortunately a very rhetorically effective one.

A University spokesperson said: “We have withdrawn the original statement about International Men’s Day, and do not propose to mark this event formally. In gender equality, our main focus has been, and will continue to be, on the inequalities faced by women, such as under-representation in the professoriate.

But not...

"In academic staff appointments, the data suggests that female candidates have a higher chance of being appointed than men. In the professional support services, there are areas where men are significantly under-represented. Likewise in academic departments, the support staff complement is often heavily weighted towards women, with some departments employing no men at all in these roles.”

According to its official UK website, ‘International Men’s Day’ exists to raise awareness of global issues facing men and boys, and to ‘celebrate the contribution that men make.’ It does not, however, seek a dialogue on such issues with women’s equality campaigns or initiatives.

Translation: "It doesn't include our view points"

Nor does it acknowledge that the patriarchal structures which underpin society are inimical to both male and female advancement and well-being, or that the achievements of men are celebrated and disproportionately highlighted as a matter of course. We believe in a critical approach towards equality and diversity, which seeks to understand the structural causes of disadvantage.

Translation: "It doesn't include our view points"

Retrograde statements like this show a profound lack of understanding on issues surrounding masculinity.

Translation: "It doesn't include our view points on this."

A day that celebrates men’s issues – especially those outlined in the University’s statement – does not combat inequality, but merely amplifies existing, structurally imposed, inequalities

Translation: acknowledging men's issues hurts women; equality is apparently a zero sum game.

The closing remark – ‘gender equality is for everyone’ – echoes misogynistic rhetoric that men’s issues have been drowned out by the focus on women’s rights.

Translation: "Claiming the focus is disproportionately on women to the exclusion of men is sexist, even if this very letter seeks to drown out men's issues for the sake of focusing on women."

and the continuing marginalisation of women in academic roles. Within this context, the Equality and Diversity Committee statement’s generalised references to ‘raising awareness about – and removing barriers for – women’ fails to acknowledge the full implications of gender bias against women within the institution.

Translation: "We don't see any possible connection between 'lowering barriers' and marginalising the women for whom those barriers were lowered. It could not be possible to diversity for diversity's sake subverting merit would be a factor in questioning the merit of certain appointments."

We recognise that patriarchy is damaging to both men and women, and we are in support of a discussion concerning this, as well as increased attention to specific issues surrounding men’s health.

Translation: We are totally okay with a discussion as long as it is limited to the parameters of our worldview.

The failure of the Equality and Diversity Committee to do so undermines their self-proclaimed commitment to gender equality, and leaves us deeply concerned that their supposed investment in women’s rights is mere lip service.

Translation: "I hope you don't see the blatant projection in this statement."

This is all par for the course for academic feminism. They have a certain lens through which the world is interpreted-which on its own is fine. They then object to any criticism of the limitations or flaws with that lens, reject any conclusion that does not comport with conclusions drawn without that lens, and accuse any dissent as sexist or not being serious about equality. Afterall, the feminists are serious about equality and if you disagree with them then you must disagree with equality.

They're not interested in the truth. They're interested in whatever will confirm their bias, and are emboldened by their self righteous crusade. They sometimes double up and also have a victim complex so anyone who disagrees with them makes them feel victimized, further vindicating their victim complex-and making them feel they're fightin' the good fight by attacking their "victimizers".

The degree of childish narcissism would be hilarious if it didn't work so often. These tactics will continue to be used as long as people cowtow to them.

joewilson-MRA · 2015-11-17T11:31:34+00:00

What I can't understand is why feminists actively campaign AGAINST men's issues. How can the general public NOT see the movement past the misandry? I just started a new hashtag on Twitter #thisisthereasonemmawatson - who was confused about why they are seen as man hating.

DillipFayKick · 2015-11-17T12:59:10+00:00

I actually went over to men's lib to see how this went over, considering it was feminists that are behind it being canceled and I know that sub is infested with male feminists claiming to care about men's rights.

Anyway, as I expected they're blaming the men's rights movement for hating women.

Amazing.

CatManDontDo · 2015-11-17T12:22:33+00:00

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bub_rub · 2015-11-17T12:16:48+00:00

I'm actually really impressed with the ability feminism has to prop up this narrative that women are somehow doing worse than men in western countries.

Say what you want, but they're amazing in the propaganda department.

ralphswanson · 2015-11-17T16:01:22+00:00

If feminism were about equality, they would encourage men's rights, even if they disagreed with some details, because it would be another path to equality.

Feminism has monopolized the gender discussion in academia for a half century, and they have used that monopoly to dishonestly paint women as victims and men as privileged and powerful. They are fighting to preserve this monopoly because of the privileges and respect it grants them, particularly professional feminists. But in reality women are no victims. Women are half the functional billionaires. All laws in the west that discriminate favor women. Women benefit from affirmative action, almost all gendered scholarships and programs, and are favored by HR departments and law courts. Meanwhile, men dominate the homeless, suicides, murder victims, prisons, custody losers, school dropouts and workplace fatalities. Feminists are fighting to stop a balanced view of gender. They are fighting to maintain their unjust privileges.

Griever114 · 2015-11-17T18:15:29+00:00

The main focus of our gender equality work will continue to be on the inequalities faced by women

AKA FUCK MEN only women matter.

bsutansalt · 2015-11-17T13:54:45+00:00

This is a great example of crybullying and the University fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

LittleDevil1 · 2015-11-17T21:26:25+00:00

Here's a petition to try to bring it back

https://www.change.org/p/university-of-york-yusu-university-of-york-celebrate-international-men-s-day-37d7f60c-78ea-4362-a86c-f0d30814e9c8?recruiter=373336732&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

TedTheAtheist · 2015-11-17T16:34:00+00:00

Did you see one of the comments on that page - equating the day to a "white proud" day? I won't even ask if people are this stupid.

Alkomb · 2015-11-17T15:34:56+00:00

"gender equality" "inequalities faced by women" I'm confused.

duhmoment · 2015-11-17T21:44:58+00:00

I don't see any male power here. How can they even suggest there is when something as minute as a men's day that in reality is nothing can't happen?

2015-11-17T21:45:31+00:00

I've just sent an email to the vice-chancellor's office and to alumuni office.

Akesgeroth · 2015-11-17T23:05:04+00:00

I wonder if they would cancel Women's Day celebration if they received a letter from 200 people opposing it?

JayBopara · 2015-11-18T02:15:36+00:00

To quote from the comments:

“We believe that men’s issues cannot be approached in the same way as unfairness and discrimination towards women, because women are structurally unequal to men.”

Feminist Sacred Babble

“We recognise that patriarchy is damaging to both men and women, and we are in support of a discussion concerning this…”

We can talk about it within the feminist framework.

“We do not, however, believe that the university statement engages with these complex issues with sufficient nuance or understanding.”

Any other way to do it is wrongthink!

_Nces · 2015-11-17T22:17:12+00:00

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Lethn · 2015-11-17T10:45:55+00:00

I love that one of the comments was an Anarchist :D we're everywhere ;) It's actually pretty good to see there's a backlash against this and also that we have some real representation on the media that can't be censored very easily.

2015-11-17T16:28:35+00:00

I am disgusted but not at all surprised. Feminism and all the goodies that rank & file female humans are recipients of in its name can see the world getting sick of their bullshit. They simply cannot have 1) Men being humanized with discussions of male vulnerability and 2), by the very same token, are even more afraid of a movement lauding the good things about men because that alone negates much of their message. There are a lot if you allow yourself to think about it.

More of the "control the discussion until people get bored and quit paying attention".

I think number 2 is the most important to Feminism.

ayygiddyup · 2015-11-17T23:00:07+00:00

The petition to bring it back: https://www.change.org/p/university-of-york-yusu-university-of-york-celebrate-international-men-s-day-37d7f60c-78ea-4362-a86c-f0d30814e9c8?source_location=petitions_share_skip

booyah2 · 2015-11-18T00:14:32+00:00

So hypocritical the had a week long celebration with 100 events for international women's day

McFeely_Smackup · 2015-11-17T18:03:41+00:00

In gender equality, our main focus has been, and will continue to be, on the inequalities faced by women...

Equality...it doesn't mean what you think it means.

DaVincitheReptile · 2015-11-17T20:42:42+00:00

Ignore me. I'm posting here to see if I get banned from offmychest

Unenjoyed · 2015-11-17T19:56:54+00:00

The Equality and Diversity Committee seems to own the message from the current school administration.

Bearded_Deity · 2015-11-17T21:06:16+00:00

Yea, lets use "gender inequality" as an excuse to ignore gender inequalities (about men). Because well...lets be honest...we men are worthless, and pretty much good for nothing. How could we ever be discriminated against in divorce courts? Or sexual abuse cases? Or pretty much ANY societal situation....EVER.....

2015-11-18T07:47:16+00:00

It does not, however, seek a dialogue on such issues with women’s equality campaigns or initiatives.

>International Men's Day

> must talk about women

What the fuck.

OneGirlArmy · 2015-11-17T21:06:38+00:00

I don't understand why we need a Men's or Women's day.

Title	University branded “disgusting” and “shameful” over decision to cancel Men’s Day celebration row #InternationalMensDay
Author	Imnotmrabut
Upvotes	1226
Comments	133
Date	November 17, 2015 10:17 AM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/3t53mb/university_branded_disgusting_and_shameful_over/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/university-branded-disgusting-and-shameful-over.967062 https://theredarchive.com/post/967062

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