A petition is going around the UniCentre asking students to sign if they are in favour of a "Men's resource centre."
Apparently he (they?) is only asking men to sign the petition. My source asked to see the petition and he told her: "I would get you to sign, but I was told only to get men, since they would be the ones affected by this."
According to my source, Pam Hrick, President of the SFUO, would have totally dismissed him.
UPDATE 15h30: I just had an opportunity to speak with Shawn Gordon, author of the petition, and asked him a few questions. This is not a criticism of the WRC, in fact, he is really serious about this centre. Here are the points he wants to bring forward: Gendered pricing, paternity leave rights, violence against men, support for battered men, support and education in relation to sexual assaults against men. He hopes to collect 1000 signatures, and exclusively from men.
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Any word on what his definition of "men" is?
Alternatively, is there any way that someone could contact him?
They might've got their inspiration from Digg - a student at Pitzer College is apparently starting a "Masculinist Coalition", a club for men's interests and issues, and is getting a lot of flak for it.
Quel est l'argument derrière le fait de n'avoir QUE des hommes pour signer la pétition? Les femmes ne pourront pas accèder à l'information disponibles dans ce centre? Le Centre de ressources de femmes est là pour les femmes et les personnes transgenres, mais ne ferme jamais la porte aux hommes qui veulent s'informer... En espérant que c'est pour des bonnes raisons, et que ce n'est pas juste un mouvement de backlash...
En passant...
"Lettre ouverte aux masculinistes"
http://www.voir.ca/publishing/article.aspx?article=42716§ion=11
why only "men"? if the intention is only to support "mens" issues in its many ways, just like the WRC, it is not limited to one gender or the other. "men" support and participate in the WRC, so, whats the deal?
equality issues about gender are not solved by creating solitudes. I'd sign for a MRC but I don't know why I'm not allowed to. The reasoning doesn't seem clear.
There is a mens resource centre, its called parliament hill.
I think this may be well intentioned but its seriously misses the point. In almost all aspects of our society men have the upper hand. They are overwhelmingly the ones who hit, not the ones who get hit. They control our schools, our governments and our banks. They fill the highest ranks of more than 90% of our major corporations.
however well intentioned this may be (if it is not an insulting joke) it will turn into little more than a play house. We have one of those as well, its called a pub.
"There is a mens resource centre, its called parliament hill."
Yeah! BOO white male oppressors. BOOOOOO.
And by that I mean I fully support to creation of a men's resource centre. Violence is manifested in many different ways--violence between men (especially young men) is a real problem that is afforded little attention, and emotional violence (mostly female perpetrators) can be just as damaging as physical violence. Men face unique issues and should not be deprived of a resource just because they supposedly hold the one-up position.
No, that's ludicrous, don't let men analyze the concept of masculinity and the issues facing men. Don't allow them to examine how traditional gender roles can be detrimental to men and women. Don't give them anything to think about! They're just dumb men, all they'll do is talk about sports and drink beer and grab their balls. Stereotyping... that definitely isn't worth talking about. No, men certainly don't need a resource centre.
Pirate,
can you lend a lass some stats or proof on the claim that women perpetrate more emotional violence? How would you go about measuring this? For someone who later asserts the value of breaking down gender stereotypes, I fail to take seriously your intentions here.
Furthermore, all of the items you listed that legitimize a men's resource centre can or are already under the works at the women's resource centre. Breaking down gender barriers means that just because it's called "womens" resource centre, it doesnt mean its just for women.
The WRC is against ALL forms of violence, not just violence against women. When you live in a violent society, violence against both genders is a result. Way to stereotype the WRC, in an argument against stereotyping.
Fair enough, eliz. You've got me on the stereotyping and my poorly worded emotional violence statement... anyhow, if the WRC deals with these issues already then I think the WRC should consider a name change. How about "gender resources centre" or "centre for women and men's studies" or "gender equality centre"?
From stats canada: almost equal proportions of men and women (7% and 8% respectively) had been the victims of intimate partner physical and psychological abuse (18% and 19% respectively).
some research has found evidence that men underreport the abuse that they have sustained and inflicted, while women underreport perpetrating abuse as their age and education increase.
A recent meta-analysis (quantitative review) of more than 80 studies of physical abuse between heterosexual partners found that 35% of victims injured by an intimate partner and 39% of those requiring medical treatment were men.
It has taken years of advocacy and support to encourage women to report domestic violence. Virtually nothing has been done to encourage men to report abuse.
...that's just two web pages, and sadly they both focus on domestic violence. We all know that's not the end of the story. There are other sources out there, I'm sure. Of course, how reliable are statistics? And that's JUST violence--what about male identity and all the rest? I'm not even a man, I don't know what all the issues facing men are, and I don't know where to find out because there is no resource for men's issues... other than the WRC, which is really "men's issues insofar as they affect women" (http://www.angelfire.com/fang/adm4326/about_us.html)... doesn't look very fair to me. If the WRC has violence covered, where are the bake-sales for equal insurance rates for young male drivers? Where's the 10 step postcards for male victims of abuse? Where's the kiosk on "so they won't let you move in because you're male..."
The fact is that there ARE issues unique to men that are ignored or downplayed. A men's resource centre--even one that operates on donations as a subsidiary of the WRC--could benefit men and women. Why not afford men the same sensitivity and consideration we afford women? Why act as if giving men such a resource would jeapordize the women's movement? Fair is fair.
I think you should go raise these concerns at the WRC, no?
I would be very interested in looking at the possibilities of having a "gender equality center" as you mentioned.
The idea of a "men's resource center" popping up just after this referendum seemed to be an attack to the women's resource center.
I definitely think these things (the issues you mentionned relating to men) should be tackled by the WRC. Women's Studies in general definitely targets the sort of issues you are bringing up. The course "Men, women and society" directly targets gender constructs.
I just feel that the WRC is already (in spirit) interested in addressing these issues. It would be amazing to have a committee, or working group, to target it specifically, which could then lead to the name change.
as the recently passed referendum to pay 1$ to support the WRC was passed, this means that men are paying for it along with women. a name change is needed...something like 'peoples resource centre' or something
The Women's Resource Centre does in fact have a Men's Group that deals exactly with some of the issues raised above, such as challenging stereotypes and violence against men. This group is active and works very hard to stop all forms of violence. We are always ready to refer people to appropriate community services, be they women, men or transpeople.
After having read the e-mail (available online) that was submitted to Danika Brisson re: Men's Resource Centre, I withdraw my support for this idea.
I think it is fair and reasonable to create a resource for men, but I am unconvinced that the person behind this petition has adequately researched his claims. Furthermore, the abusive comments directed toward the WRC coordinator on this person's web site imply that this campaign is, in part, a disgruntled person's reaction to the allocation of SFUO funds to the WRC.
That being said, if in the future a serious and unbiased campaign for the creation of a men's centre were launched, I would support it. It is wonderful that the WRC organizes a men's group, but something more visible would, in my mind, be more beneficial. I'm curious about this men's group though... s'cuse me while I investigate the matter!
Hello, this is Shawn Gordon
I'd like to point out that first of all this initiative I started is not an attack on the Women's Resource Centre in any way. Period.
Secondly any form of 'attack' or 'slander' that I've published against any person in the SFUO is neither attack, nor slander. It is the truth.
The people that belong to this organization have shown me nothing but disinterest at best, hostility at worst.
Leichnitz is a sexist. When I approached her, her response was to (and I quote) "Men have plenty of avenues of advocacy in the university. If you ask for the Dean of any department, senior administrator, or President, there is an overwhelming chance you will be meeting a man"
She seems to think that men belong to some sort of secret club, which focuses on advancing men in society over women. The club does not exist, and Leichnitz harbours a very sexist, ignorant, and destructive attitude towards men's rights.
This by the way is the person responsible for the centre that contains this 'men's group.'
Second of all, Women can sign the petition. Only allowing men to sign the petition was a decision I made going against my first instinct and following the advice of a friend who is in the SFUO, and far more experienced than myself. I have since allowed women to sign the petition.
Forgive me if I seem combative, but I am trying to make the world a little more equal. All that I want is some resources, some significant resources, that will be watched to make sure they are spent appropriatly, and not on a second-thought based system as they are now, to be given to fight for men's issues and provide support for men who have none.
In the process of my struggle, the people who I have voted for, the people who the majority of us have voted for, have betrayed me. They have set up walls and barriers of ignorance. Blocked my initiatives, and forced me into resorting to petition to bring about a change that should have started 50 years ago.
Seamus Wolfe said the world is a Men's Resource Centre
Kyle Ryc said I was 2 steps away from 'a December 10th'
Everyone else in our SFUO that I have spoken to have said nothing. And that is the biggest insult of all.
I am not looking to start a fight against the WRC. Women's issues remain of the utmost importance in our society, and they need the appropriate attention that they so rarely recieve.
Men's Rights, more or less important depending on your view, recieve no attention.
This is what I would like to change.
Debate my motives all you want, I am a man who has recieved a collective middle finger from my elected officials.
Keep that in mind before you call me self-interested or accuse me of an elaborate attack.
The Women's Resource Centre's acquisition of SFUO management and funds initially made me frustrated, and ask myself: Why do their struggles get all the attention and money?
Then I realised that it was because they had people working for them, in a positive way.
That was my inspiration. I think that $30,000 is resonable funding for that centre. I am happy about it, they have acheived a great victory for gender equality. It is time men win a similar victory.
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