Not all peaches and cream in a so-called mans world.

Lets not forget who raises boys to be bad men in prisons.

Before re-education of problematic boys it may be an idea to re-educate those that do the educting in the first place.

Else. Keep pointing the finger and keep perpetuating the satus quo.

Oh yeah, and keep affecting the ruse. Its very entertaining. Of particular amusement was the notion that socio-political classification is redundant in these discussions. Except when ya got a barrow to push and especially when pushing it against the enemy.

Very tricky writing by the author. l smell a rat.

Interesting article and thread. However, despite the efforts of many to divert attention from it, the fact remains that men commit serious crimes at a much higher rate than do women in Australian society - and are imprisoned for them at a much higher rate than women.

Nobody seems to disagree with this fundamental point of the article, but few seem to be interested in why this is this case. The author points us towards some kind of essentialist or sociobiological explanation. I've never been a fan of those kinds of explanations for other social phenomena, so I'd be interested to read people's alternative explanation for the excessive criminality of men when compared statistically with that of women?

As a bloke who would hardly be described as a feminist, I'd be genuinely interested in comments that address that central question - particularly if they are supported by credible evidence. We know that women and men are both capable of committing crimes, but why is it that men are convicted and inprisoned for them at such an overwhelmingly higher rate than women?

It's still a valid question, whether you like it or not - or whether or not there are other valid questions to be asked about other gender-related topics.

Robert,
The negative portrayal of men in the media and in advertising is little more than a marketing ploy. Men earn most of the household income, but women spend most of it (I have seen estimates of up to 80%). So a company maligns men and makes men look stupid in advertisements in an attempt to make women feel superior. If a woman feels superior, then she is more likely to buy products from that company.

Similar happens in feminism.

Men are defined as bad, and woman as good (or “women and their children” are defined as good). This helps to unite women and makes women feel superior also.

And of course if a woman does something bad, then it is because a man has made her do something bad. So it is always the fault of a man.

In this article, the feminist attempts to define men as bad and criminals, (because 0.2% of men are in jail.) Now she also refers to an increasing number of women breaking the law, but of course this is because of men. So she then says that men have to be studied to find out what makes them bad, so that women or boys do not become like men, who are bad.

You can prove me wrong. But this feminist is not an extremist feminist, but a moderate or mainstream feminist who is being paid by the taxpayer. The maligning of males has become so widespread, that it is now considered to be mainstream and normal.

MLK

You have stated that you do not agree with the proposition that men are geneticzlly predisposed towards violence and crime. I agree with that.

I should address your assumption that men are responsible for most child abuse. That is not so and it is why feminists try to limit the term to sexual abuse, where they feel they are on safer ground. In doing so they score political points, but only through doing a terrible disservice to abused children.

You would be stretching credulity of most in claiming that child abuse stems from the 'patriarchy', or distribution of political power. Have you considered that other social factors such as disintegration of the extended family, or maybe lack of education might be at work?

On another point, of course feminists popularised the use of 'gender'. Is it now inconvenient for gender feminists?

Returning to the author's article which you applauded as 'very welcome', what is the learning that we can apply?

HRS, we are drifting off topic again. Clearly some feminists do what you suggest but to claim they are all like that is as unfair as what you claim has been done by feminists.

For an example of what I am talking about have a look at yvonne's post on the invasion of pornography thread
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=6114#88633

A short post but reflecting the type of approach to feminism that I refer to. You might also see the complaints against the political left (of which I don't consider myself one) on a feminist website which appears to support a radical feminist viewpoint http://www.againstpornography.org/

"At the same time, many members of the political Left glorify pornography as 'sexual freedom', write articles that vilify radical feminists and accuse them of being in alliance with the Right wing (while, in fact, radical feminists reject the conservative Right's reactionary ideas). These Leftists try to drive many people away from the radical feminist work (feminists' important books that they have kept on writing, in spite of the censorship the mainstream media has imposed on them). Leftists Should instead face the reality: striving for social justice and defending pornography is inherently contradictory!" - while moderate feminism is not necessarily leftist there is enough parallel to pay attention.

R0bert

Robert,
I think I am very much on topic.

This feminist wants to study why most criminals are male. But why stop there.

Why not also study why males are at the top of the field in almost all fields of human endeavour. In everything from Architecture to Zoology, males are at the top of the field.

To this feminist and many others, a male is bad and a criminal, so the male gender is to be studied to find out why they are criminals.

But no mention of carrying out a study to find out why nearly all the top industrialists, scientists, artists, musicians, writers and even educators are male.

I have rarely seen a positive word said by a feminist about the male gender. But I have seen just about every type of negative and maligning statement made by a feminist about the male gender. Next feminists will be saying that they are non-gender prejuiced.