Interesting article, Andee.
Here's what I read from this:
- It's up to women to tell men what's wrong with them
- 50% of men are rapists (and at least half of that do it for 'entertainment';
- 'According to the evidence...associated with broad-ranging harms to men themselves as well as with abusive and violent thoughts, attitudes and behaviours toward women.' - could you also argue that traditional notions of male entitlement and toughness are associated with a strong desire to protect his family? Could you argue that a women would want a strong man to protect her, especially when the environment is unsafe?
- 'Today, we are still as likely fight in other people's wars over access to other people's resources' - We are also being invited to fight other peoples wars because the violent instigators of these wars are hellbent on enforcing a truly misogynistic, evil ideology. Indeed, you need toughness on every level (which is found in both men AND women) to overcome this evil ideology that wants to destroy Western civilisation and impose an ideology.
- '...is our desire to retain the capacity to send hordes of gullible youth to fight other people's wars worth putting up with the side effects, namely the deep well of male fear that finds its target in women, children, queers, and ethnic minorities' - again, I'd argue that in this current war in the Middle East, we are fighting for the rights of women, children, queers and ethnic minorities. Can ISIS (or IS or ISIL) claim to be fighting for the rights of these groups? I suggest the evidence says otherwise. Are there side effects of war? Yes - horrible ones. Does more need to be done to protect and assist veterans (both men and women) from physical and mental damage following conflict? Of course! Are we going to avoid conflict because of the side effects - let someone else be raped, murdered or ethnically cleansed because of possible side effects? I certainly hope not.
Thank you for your thought provoking article, Andee.

Hi Pete,
You have just shown that you have not understood the article. Try again. Think about what upsets you so much and have a long slow look at why. Try thinking about this issue from the perspective of others: a child, a woman, a different type of man to you. Look at the messages the culture sends us and think about what it does to people. If you need a man to help you work out what is going on and how you are being manipulated watch Russell Brand deconstruct the news. Read the master of PR Edward Bernays and his 1928 pamphlet "Propaganda". Goebbels found it of great use. Manipulation the anger and entitlement of people is how we are ruled.

You start with a bold statement, which you then retract. Why make the statement in the first place?

Please Lillian,
Tell me how I should read this article (and think). You've said I misunderstood the article, I'm being manipulated and I need re-education (in different words).
I'm assuming you want me to think that at least 50% of men are rapists, predisposed and culturalised to violence (against all and sundry) and the author has a responsibility to tell the world of the ills of men.
What do you suggest my response be? Indeed I agree that violence (committed by anyone) is terrible and every individual has a responsibility to address it and the underlying motives behind it.
I enjoyed the article - it was thought provoking, annoying and interesting. I disagree with you however on your assertion that I've missed the point - please educate me on how I've done this (and I genuinely want to know).
Warmest regards,
Pete

LOL

Does Spurr really think emails are a secure and confidential form of communication?

Would you want someone as dumb as this joker educating your children?

In the private sector most employers have strict codes of conduct regarding email usage. Making racist comments in any shape, manner or form using your employer's email system is a sackable offence. I've seen it happen.

>>The fact is that traditional Western norms of masculinity both encourage and coerce boys and men into adopting tough, Father-Knows-Best attitudes, and that such attitudes are associated with restrictive sexual and emotional behaviour, obsession with dominating, competing and controlling, and health-care problems.>>

This is true in most cultures, not merely western.

How do you think ISIS gets its recruits?

I think I am going to be sick.

What a big load of codswallop. Rehashing Freudian ideology.

Is the male of the species REALLY in that much trouble?

Just maybe genetics, has a bigger role to play than the issues of alleged abuse and the so called society.

It would seem that a few of the mental health professionals have an amazing level of interest in sexual abuse, as if this is the seat of all our societies problems, however like all things definitions get redefined over a period of time, and it kind of reminds of how the witch hunters use to go out and find witches.