One of the top stories of 2015 has to be the big, and positive, turn in the gender war.
The year began with third wave anti-male feminists continuing to get a favorable reception. But during the summer they attacked President Obama for support more education for society's most disadvantaged population: African American males. That was the nadir for feminism. It was also a turning point.
Then during the fall we saw a whole different public reaction. Those seeing men as different from women got more of voice, and expressed their views more. A post on the Washington Post suggesting all boys should play with dolls was laughed off the front page in less than 24 hours, the reaction so strong the Wash Post retreated and gave the story a whole new headline. Time Magazine asked whether the word "feminist" should be retired. And there was decidedly less support for the third wave feminist bluster.
The fall also saw some to-the-point and action oriented stories about actually solving the gender pay gap. Instead of bluster and blame, organizations and the media reports about them were devoid of emotion and focused on just solving the problem. It's not over. But 2014 might have marked a turning point from the third wave feminists' ideological frenzy to a less emotional and practical approach to solving gender issues in society. Photo: my heroine, second wave feminist leader Betty Friedan, who believed men and women were different, and equal.
From NineShifter Chad Holbrook: I sat just a couple of feet away from you during your final LERN presentation Sunday morning. I appreciated what you had to say regarding the differences and complementarity of men and women. I totally agree that men and women are equal but not the same. Each brings a unique set of life skills to the table that enriches this world, not demeans it. I did disagree with the notion that we should raise boys as girls. I would argue that qualities (e.g., love, respect, kindness, hard work, service, etc.), taught and practiced in the homes by parents toward children, rather than gender, have the greatest impact on the developing child and how that child then interacts with the world around him or her. Also, in my humble opinion, it is destructive and divisive to put down the other gender in an attempt to build up one's own gender. Recently, meaning the last several years, men and boys have been portrayed in various media as incompetent, stupid, selfish, etc., while women are being portrayed as competent, intelligent and having all the answers. What is this constant negative barrage doing to the moral and self concept of boys who will one day be men? Men are not optional! Good, well educated, selfless and loving men are critical to the wellbeing and health of families and society in general!
Posted by: LERN | December 22, 2014 at 12:52 PM