“Men have issues just like everyone else”
It seems it’s okay for everyone to have an advocacy group – except straight white men. At least that’s the case at Brandon University. And I’ve seen this issue come up many times (the I’m a White Minority @ Ryerson Facebook group controversy comes to mind). It seems a bit hypocritical that some of the same people who claim to be fighting for equality would rally against the right for men to have advocacy groups of their own – just like every other group has.
When Will Breen tried to form his campus group, he faced a lot of criticism:
One elected council member set the tone of debate, scoffing that Breen’s group would be nothing but a “pornography and cigar club.” As a man, he huffed, he didn’t require representation. Other speakers were miffed and simply couldn’t see the need. The motion was defeated.
At another forum, a female professor could barely tolerate hearing Breen’s reasons for starting a Men’s Collective. “She was saying that men do not have need of representation, that we have historically been the oppressors, that we have no position of disadvantage,” the fourth-year geology student recalled.
But Breen isn’t forming another group to compete for victim status. He questions why everyone thinks a group should be “disadvantaged” to have an advocacy group.
“Men have issues just like everyone else,” he maintained.
Imagine if someone called the Women’s group a “baking and knitting club.”
Breen eventually was granted the right to start his group, which will receive $400 in funding. That, compared to the $5,000 per year and $2,000 startup grant the Women’s Collective gets. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans-gender Commission gets $2,000 per year.
Thanks to Fraser for bringing this story to my attention.
I don’t mind that Breen had trouble making his group, or even that (after making an issue of it) that his group gets less funding than other comparable groups. But the flippant nature of the dismissal is what got to me. “pornography and cigar club”, ungh. Some joke.
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I emailed the PR guy for Brandon University Student Union, asking for a response but have yet to hear anything back. If I do (and it’s interesting) I’ll post it here.
I don’t think there’s a particular need for a male advocacy group – I probably wouldn’t join one – but if there are males out there that feel a need for one, they should be treated the same way as any other group that feels it needs advocacy.
It’s a funny question. What’s a “need”? Who needs advocacy? I agree, I don’t think men do. But there may be a net benefit if these guys get to run their programs. It’s pretty hard to do anything with $400 dollars and a Student Union that hates you.
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There’s a poker club at Ryerson.
Oh Digg didn’t work for me, so I made your blog my facebook status.
You the man.
The culture we live in was created by and for straight white males. Attempts to advocate for the rights of the dominant class are simply further attempts to oppress and retain power.
If a straight white male cannot be successful in a world built specifically for him his problem is larger than any advocacy group could help with.
The whole point of the equality movement is to change the world into a place that’s equal to all – and I think we’ve come a long way. And advocacy groups are usually created to attempt to help further that goal. But until men are given equal treatment to have groups of their own, we will never have true equality. We certainly won’t get anywhere with people continuing to view straight white men as the “dominant class.” And how is advocating for men’s rights and discussing men’s issues a further attempt to oppress and retain power? Can you not accept the fact that there are men out there who aren’t evil and just want to discuss their issues like any other group has the chance to do?
Hmm, very cognitive post.
Is this theme good unough for the Digg?
Well, that’s up to you, I guess. I only post things I feel are worth digging. But I understand everyone has different tastes.
Either way, thanks for the comment. It’s always nice to see someone new is interested in what I have to say. Hope to see you back.