A couple of days ago, Men’s Rights rageoholic Paul Elam angrily denounced journalist Tory Shepherd as a liar for saying that his A Voice for Men website “regularly calls women ‘bitches and whores,’ which it does not.”
Now, anyone who has actually read his website for any length of time knows this is patently false. As if to underscore just how baldly Elam was lying in his post three days ago, the site today ran a post attacking her with this headline:
Apparently, the new line at AVFM is that they don’t call ALL women bitches and whores, at least not on a regular basis, so that’s practically the same as calling no women bitches and whores. Shepherd, in a column yesterday, quoted this rather tortuous, but revealing, explanation from AVFM “managing editor” Dean Esmay:
We do not regularly call women as a class whores or c**ts… we will on occasion call a woman, like Tory Shepherd or a man like (University of Wollongong lecturer) Michael Flood a whore, a c**t, or a bitch… yes, we use heated rhetoric.
Ah, well, then that’s perfectly fine!
I do have to applaud AVFM for its brilliantly counterintuitive PR strategy here. Just a few days after learning that the proposed Male Studies initiative at the University of South Australia may be dead in the water — except for a couple of courses about men’s health — in part because two of the proposed lecturers have connections with the misogynist extremists at AVFM, AVFM is doing everything in its power to live up to its reputation as a haven for misogynist extremists.
All this said, I remain a bit confused about exactly what has happened with the Male Studies initiative at UniSA.
The school, for its part, says that only two courses on men’s health were ever approved. According to the school, the other proposed courses were rejected in 2012.
But the point man at UniSA for the Male Studies initiative, an associate professor at the school’s Centre for Rural Health and Community Development named Gary Misan, seems to have been laboring under the impression that the school was going to go forward with more than one course, describing himself on his official web page as “program co-ordinator for a new suite of courses in Male Studies at UniSA, the first of which will be offered in 2014.”
Roy Den Hollander, one of the controversial lecturers with ties to AVFM (he’s written for them), was also under the impression that his course was going forward, and has apparently been preparing for it. According to Shepherd, who spoke to him after the controversy broke,
US “anti-feminist” lawyer Roy Den Hollander said yesterday that he was preparing a course that looked at how the law favours females when it comes to employment, crime, domestic relations, property, divorce and illegitimate children.
“The course is really looking back at 200 or 300 years of history and how the law treated guys and girls – and it treated girls more favourably than guys and it still does, maybe even more so.
Mr Den Hollander also stood by his claim that men’s remaining source of power was “firearms”. Asked whether he thought that was “extreme”, he said that it was true that it was “really the only area that they control in society now”.
Miles Groth, the Wagner College psychology professor (and sometime AVFM contributor) who seems to have developed the courses, also seemed to have thought that they had been approved — and then cancelled. On his Facebook page, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, he complained that “[t]wo years of preparation and the support of the university from the start now seem to be jeopardy because of unnamed critics making erroneous accusations.”
And AVFM itself trumpeted the alleged Male Studies program in December as “[t]he Biggest Single Advance for Men and Boys in 2013,” declaring unequivocally that
the first degree program in MALE STUDIES begins in 2014. It is supported by the University of South Australia and will be available to students worldwide.
According to the male studies folks, in other words, there was a male studies program approved and ready to go, but after word got out that some of the principals were tied to AVFM, the program was unceremoniously dumped.
But according to the school, there was no male studies program to begin with, just a couple of men’s health courses.
So either all these male studies people are completely delusional, or they may have taken some vague encouragement from school officials as a promise, or the school isn’t telling the whole truth.
I suppose we’ll find out.
NOTE: Just a note on the derogatory language discussed above. There actually isn’t anything wrong with sex workers. The term “whore” is really only problematic when used as a slur.
With all things being equal men in general live shorter lives because of many factors one of which is that testosterone weakens the immune system, that’s why men have a harder time fighting infectious diseases and cancer. Castration can increase the lifespan by up to almost 20 years. The MRA’s use all this to claim that men are opressed by evil feminists despite the entire medicine being male-centric with the male as the default human.
Oxford University degrees in maths are BAs, thank you very much. Because maths is an art.
*blows raspberry at STEM-arrogant MRAs*
Women didn’t even have the right to vote in the United States until 1920. And in those earlier years he references, men were automatically granted custody of their property (er, children).
So, I can’t believe I’m even acknowledging their ridiculous framing of this, BUT wasn’t Cinderella from a prosperous family in the original story? The “evil step-mother” reduced her to a servant after her rich father died.
JB is still pretending there is no difference between a gendered slur and a generic insult? That sounds like more of the usual. Denial of reality is considered a well thought out argument is at aVfM. Threats, slurs and lies are all they have.
Meanwhile, Lindy West is a hilarious comedian who has received rape threats and ongoing harassment for saying that mocking rape victims isn’t funny. I notice JB didn’t mention that. Gosh, I wonder why.
(Not really)
Actually, after 30 years in academia, my take on the whole thing is a scenario as follows… Person pitches male studies to administrator at University. Administrator is interested and encourages person to develop program. Person proceeds to do so, receiving more encouragement from administrator. Administrator retires, is fired/transferred/moves to new position in another university. Replacement is not interested in male studies, but sees a couple of courses that look good – men’s health which can be integrated into another existing program. Sees that the others are more controversial/marginal. Keeps the courses he can use, withdraws encouragement for the ones he can’t.
Funding probably figures into this as well. The university probably has faculty already on staff who can teach men’s health courses, but would have to hire outsiders for the rest. Also setting up a new department is expensive -you have to come up with space, furniture, staff as well as faculty. If they don’t think that courses will fill/run, they won’t do it. And existing departments won’t want to spend resources on courses that they don’t think will run. So, no ebil feeeemale conspiracy – just modern university politics/economics. This happens all the time today to all kinds of programs. What these guys need to do is find some bazillionaire who is willing to fund such a program and have him talk to the university. If he provides the funding for a male studies program and gives the university in question a new building, they would probably be perfectly willing to run the program for a few years at least.
Agreed.
I don’t know about testosterone lowering a man’s immune system ????
I did read however that one factor in women living a little longer on average is because she bleeds every month during her reproductive years . Blood has iron in it (obviously) and iron is very hard on our hearts (and other organs). So women having lower levels of iron over the long term = less wear and tear on her heart .
Just look at people who store too much iron from a hereditary condition called hemochromatosis .Its a chronic and life threatening condition. It eventually damages all your organs and you die. (prematurely)The treatment is “blood letting” . You can also have iron overload though without this condition from eating too many high iron foods such as red meat. Women by shedding blood every month will on average have less iron .
All men(unless they have a condition that prevents them ) should donate blood regularly .Long term having less iron can factor in to a longer life span .
How’s that for Men’s Health Studies ???(wink)
Here’s one source .
http://healthmad.com/health/the-incredible-health-benefits-of-donating-blood/
Cool! My bf donates blood all the time, and doesn’t eat a lot of red meat. Although, it has its downside because he actually had so little iron he wasn’t allowed to give blood for a while and had to take iron supplements for a month. But, he just gave blood again yesterday and he’s kind of into health and longevity so that’s cool, I’ll have to let him know.
Yeah you definitely don’t want to go in the opposite direction where you have way too little iron . We usually get plenty because we have so many iron fortified foods and we are more likely to have more than we really need . The advantage again though for women is our periods . I thought that was interesting factor to women living longer you know ? All you ever here about is “anemia.” I think they have even moved towards lowering the acceptable amount before they call it “anemia” and start prescribing iron supplements. I would have a little less than a little more after reading what iron overload does to your body .That condition I mentioned above the dr. described it as your body slowly rusting from the inside out !
And I have known people with “anemia “. My mother had it due to some slow but chronic internal bleeding she was unaware of and eventually she could barely stand up . She ended up needing several blood transfusions.
“Because maths is an art.”
Told ya math is beautiful!
On topic, I showed my mother the quote about how they only call some women bitches and whores and she said something about how oh, as long as they aren’t calling all women bitches, whored and see you next Tuesdays (c…u…Next…Tuesday). I’d forgotten that lovely little phrase >.<
Sorry to hear about your mother. I’ve had anaemia – it is not nice. Walking three steps left me exhausted. Literally. Three steps. Happily caught it before the transfusion stage and controllable by iron suppliments.
Just to clarify, last comment at Dallasapple not Argenti.
WeeBoy: You know, I’ve started thinking that protection orders should be issued with ankle tracking-bracelets with GPS units installed. The moment the person under the order enters a forbidden zone, an alarm goes off signaling the cops. It might not prevent all of these tragedies (it still takes time for cops to arrive, etc), but it would likely help in cases wwhere the person with the order against them ‘just wants to talk’ (while waving a weapon around).
I’m sorry for you too . I’m glad you got it caught and have it under control .(((HUGS)))) Yeah my mother by the time she finally went to the hospital was having to hang on to something just to stand . Its awful .
Umm… More than 70 years ago divorce and child law always, always, always favored men, it’s one reason of many that abused women of the day wouldn’t seek divorce. It hasn’t been “favoring women for 200-300 years”.
And, if it has, that kind of pokes a hole in your insistence that FEMINISM is responsible, doesn’t it?
Theres a good article in Mother Jones today about a GOP candidate in VA, state senator Dick Black of the red crud state of VA, a white man, who is running in the GOP primary for the US House seat of retiring Republican Frank Wolf. Dick Black has opposed marital rape laws. Thinkprogress has another article, today, about Republicans pushing a bill that would force the IRS to audit rape victims, which process is currently being done in red crud Republican states by the state tax collectors, to prove that no Medicare money is going to abortions for women who were raped.
@Diana, citation?
Yes, I guess not many people know that testosterone supresses the immune system. But having a stronger immune system is not always a perk either, women for example are 3 times more likely to suffer from autoimmune diseases.
http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2013/december/testosterone.html
http://bbc.co.uk/news/health-19699266
I did read however that one factor in women living a little longer on average is because she bleeds every month during her reproductive years .
The loss of iron could be another factor contributing to it. It’s just many factors playing together. You also have estrogen which is good for the heart, but this effect is lost after menopause.
Yes I realize just one factor . But for men’s health we can’t really start giving them estrogen.(estrogen also plays a role in certain types of cancer ) .But if the doctor gives them the O.K IOW if they have no health issues preventing them ,donating blood is something they can do for their health.That is good for them …free…doesn’t take much time …and it helps others too as a bonus .
I’ve advised all 3 of my sons . Ironically after I found this out my oldest son mentioned his doctor told him he had too many red blood cells. I told him GO donate BLOOD every 3 months! Of course he didn’t listen but at least I warned him .Just so happens my husband has always donated blood just to contribute . I will say once he donated plasma and was sick for days .
Anyhoo….
Ah donating blood, I can’t, for various reasons, but wouldn’t if I could, not until men who’ve had sex with men are subject to the same sorts of AIDS prevention waiting periods as other people are when that’s a concern. Weirdest part of that? Graphic version — dude sticks his dick in another dude’s ass, neither can ever donate again, dude then sticks said dick in a vagina? No restrictions on the person possessing said vagina. Because vaginas magically prevent the transmission of AIDS?
Note, seriously, don’t do that. If you’re going to be sticking things in asses and then vaginas, use different condoms for each hole, nobody needs shit there. (What, it’s been awhile since I pulled out my standard “they’re called condoms”)
/random tangent about sex
It’s a weird one with the blatant homophobia in blood donation, but I don’t think it’s helpful to not donate based on that. It’s not like boycotting a certain restaurant, people actually need blood, even the men who are forbidden from donating might need it.
Fighting for change does work, as it has in the UK. It’s not perfect but it’s a start:
Stonewall article
nhs guidelines
You should not donate blood for 12 months after having sex with:
a prostitute
someone who has injected drugs
someone who has haemophilia (a condition that stops your blood from clotting normally)
someone who has been sexually active in parts of the world where AIDS and HIV are common, such as sub-Saharan Africa
a man who has had oral or anal sex with another man (if you are female)
a man (if you are male)
Going back to laws “favoring women” specifically relating to divorce and custody:
http://www.amptoons.com/blog/files/Massachusetts_Gender_Bias_Study.htm
– relevant quote “We began our investigation of child custody aware of a common perception that there is a bias in favor of women in these decisions. Our research contradicted this perception. Although mothers more frequently get primary physical custody of children following divorce, this practice does not reflect bias but rather the agreement of the parties and the fact that, in most families, mothers have been the primary [*748] caretakers of children. Fathers who actively seek custody obtain either primary or joint physical custody over 70% of the time.”
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CDsQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncadv.org%2Ffiles%2FNCADVchildcustodyinstitute.pdf&ei=NUvZUreIFKu0sAS_k4GAAw&usg=AFQjCNHDhhuMnvbOGElf4DXDpfE2IABGIw
Grrr… wasn’t done
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.1525/sop.2012.55.1.3?uid=3739256&uid=2460338415&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=83&uid=63&sid=21103287227637
Most of these are behind pay walls:
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=contested+custody+domestic+violence&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=N07ZUp6pDtS2sASrhoCQAw&ved=0CCYQgQMwAA
Well you don’t have to donate it . You can ask your doctor to extract the blood and discard it.I was talking about men’s health issues .Therapeutic phlebotomy. If you want to blood thrown away have it discarded.
That is exactly right . But no matter how many times you show this evidence you still here how mean have “lost their right to be a father” .Only 2-5% of divorce cases ever even go into a custody dispute . they are in a agreement before it comes to that.
I told one that and he said “yeah well men won’t even try because they already know the cards are stacked against him. He has to PROVE he’s FIT!
Yeah if the judge thinks he’s trying to get custody strictly to avoid child support ?(which I’m sorry is what you here these MRA’s complaining about / the woman gets all his ‘wealth “(look up average child support ordered. Oh and look up how much is ever collected.
Sorry if you won’t even try its not the law in your way .
There is a rise in men being awarded custody and guess what the main reason is ? More men are in the primary caretaker of the children now than ever before during the marriage .Either full time SAHD or part time stay at home dad with a part time job.
The goal is to try and cause the LEAST interuption uprooting in the child’s regular routine .