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History of Feminism

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ismnotwasm

(42,533 posts)
Sat Jun 28, 2014, 12:13 PM Jun 2014

Inside the first International Conference on Men's Issues. [View all]

There were no protestors outside the modest lakefront veteran’s lodge in St. Clair Shores, just outside Detroit, Michigan. The very official-sounding First International Conference On Men’s Issues was relocated here from a downtown hotel, because of what the organizers alleged were “death threats,” but was later reported by local media to be space limitations. By the time yesterday’s planned 3pm “press conference” got going 25 minutes late, there were only about 30 people in the audience, most (but not all) white middle-aged men. A handful of them were reporters. The rest were true believers in a “War on Men.” There was a disco ball in the center of the hall, draped with white paper streamers.

“Point the camera that way and that way only,” said one of the three security guards armed with superfluous walkie talkies, reprimanding someone taking video footage of the attendees, which was prohibited. The organizers introduced the speakers at great lengths, taking pride in their various appearances on Fox News. A Voice For Men founder and conference organizer Paul Elam stated that the cop cars parked outside were there because of more death threats. ”I’m getting tired of the death threats,” shouted a staff member.

Outside, I spoke to St. Clair Shores Officer David Burmeister about the alleged death threats. He said that no specific threats have been made at all. The cops were contracted to be there by A Voice For Men. It appeared that they weren’t there to protect them from specific and imminent danger, but to give the illusion of it.


Below are direct quotes from the panelists — six females, five males fervently engaged in ”the war for men’s human rights” against an “Evil Empire” of “highly-organized radical feminists” hellbent on “feminizing” every facet of law. They include repeated mentions of urgent “misandry” issues such as allegedly widespread false paternity allegations and unflattering male buffoon characters on television sitcoms.


http://www.animalnewyork.com/2014/inside-first-international-conference-mens-issues/


The quotes are interesting and often deluded, and there are a few I agree with, but overall (for no real reason) this reminded me of 'The Cereal Killers' part of the story arc "The Dolls House" in the graphic novel Sandman by Neil Gaiman. (The 'Cereal Killers' are actually serial killers having their own convention)

The homophobic word 'feminized' is used repeatedly. What's extremely sad, is this small group of I'm assuming, miserable men, and their women supporters have created a paradigm that's unnessisary. The legitimate issues could have found common ground with and allied with feminism instead of setting up their straw man in an attempt to create legitimacy as a movement.

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Some men really begrudge the progress being made by women over these past decades, don't they? NYC_SKP Jun 2014 #1
Yeah I get the need to uphold our young men to higher standards. ismnotwasm Jun 2014 #2
It would be interesting to see a Venn diagram of this group... malthaussen Jun 2014 #3
Heh! ismnotwasm Jun 2014 #10
Reading those quotes was truly bizarre BrotherIvan Jun 2014 #4
In Michigan, they can. knitter4democracy Jun 2014 #7
Thanks for the info! BrotherIvan Jun 2014 #8
Sure. I'm involved in custody issues. knitter4democracy Jun 2014 #9
I'm so sorry BrotherIvan Jun 2014 #11
Thank you. I do, too. knitter4democracy Jun 2014 #12
yes mercuryblues Jul 2014 #22
That's true in several states. malthaussen Jun 2014 #14
It is, and it isn't. knitter4democracy Jun 2014 #15
Yep, that's one rationale. malthaussen Jun 2014 #19
It's more that DNA doesn't make one a parent. knitter4democracy Jun 2014 #21
you can still challenge paternity within 3 years of child's birth shaayecanaan Jun 2014 #18
But you still have to pay child support if you were married at the time. knitter4democracy Jun 2014 #20
"We’ve seen women with increased reproductive freedom, sufrommich Jun 2014 #5
No, it's bullshit Warpy Jun 2014 #6
A note from their wives. That is pure horse shit. MadrasT Jun 2014 #13
My response should any asshole try to make that argument to my face... Gravitycollapse Jun 2014 #16
Great scene! ismnotwasm Jun 2014 #17
you are correct mercuryblues Jul 2014 #23
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