What do men think feminists should be focusing their energies on?

[PetulaGordino]

It's pretty clear that there are many men with constructive criticism to offer feminists in terms of what feminist issues they should be focusing their energies, activism and outrage on.

This vital advice is at risk of being lost, spread as it is among myriad threads in this section. Perhaps it would be a good idea to collect it together into one thread, for ongoing reference when posters in this section consider their feminist activities and whether they are really focusing on the right issues.

Obviously it should be borne in mind that feminists are only able to focus strictly on one topic at a time in terms of activism and outrage, so don't overload us with too many issues at once!

[PetulaGordino]

[JohnFarleysRuskin]

I was told I shouldn't waste my energy on page three and should worry about more important things.

FGM was suggested.

I said I could manage a 5 minute conversation or sign a petition about both, if necessary. He didn't seem to accept what a supreme multitasking dynamo he was dealing with.

[AKnickerfulOfMenace]

If suggestions could be restricted to issues that the suggestor has no intention of campaigning on himself, that'd be extra peachy with a side of awesome.

[PetulaGordino]

ooh yes, feminists have to be the ones doing all te work, obviously - it's only right

[PuffinsAreFictitious]

If the men making the suggestions could also be completely irrelevant cunts, that'd be great too.

I am ill, and my tiny reserves of patience have gone now

[AnnieLobeseder]

Well, the awful statistics for male suicide and the lack of support for male victims of DV spring to mind. Oh, and fathers not getting 50/50 custody after a divorce.

[PetulaGordino]

I'm expecting special focus on advice about logic, reason and The Scientific Process

Plus some stretching of the definitions of Ad Hominem and Straw Man arguments

[Magnetic1]

"Well, the awful statistics for male suicide and the lack of support for male victims of DV spring to mind. Oh, and fathers not getting 50/50 custody after a divorce."

Well said, Annie love. And feminists, if concerned about equality, should be asking why girls are allowed their own space just for girls in the Guides, but boys aren't allowed a space just for the boys in the cubs? As a father with a son and daughter who may be joining up soon it's something I've been thinking about a lot lately.

[PetulaGordino]

Oh goody the first man!

[AKnickerfulOfMenace]

A wife, a son and a daughter?

[Magnetic1]

It's not an unusual concept AKnickerfulOfMenace. Actually it was my wife who advised me about this forum.

[Anonynonny]

I think many men think feminists ought to stop going on and on and on about the 25% of women raped or sexually assaulted and only 10-15% of the rapes being reported and concentrate instead on the 2-4% of rape allegations which are false.

So out of 85,000 rapes a year, only about 10,000 get reported and 200-400 of them are false reports, half of which don't actually name a specific man.

Feminists should STFU about the 85,000 and start focusing on the 100-200. Because clearly, that's much more important.

[Anonynonny]

Also I think lots of men think women should fight for paternity rights.

Because it's not up to men to fight for them.

[InAndOfMyself]

Going on my ex-husbands, who was a better than me, it must be said, the feminists should focus on how PND affects the poor, long suffering men; society needs more understanding and support for them.

[Yops]

Ooh, there's a lot of anger in here .

I thought it was a serious question for a minute.

[FarelyKnuts]

And where have your thoughts taken you Magnetic?
Does the concept of girls having their own space to learn, develop and grow bother you?

[PuffinsAreFictitious]

Yops... nah. But there has been a goady fucker tag team going on today. This is merely to lighten the mood.

[chantico]

Does the wording of this question mean that "men" are a unified group whose wants can be quantified?

Just like 'what do feminists think of...?'

[PetulaGordino]

No no, just the specific men who impart such wisdom but which sinks without a trace in this section. Surely it must be collected together and used for future reference?

There are plenty of other men who contribute without offering such advice. They tend to stick around longer, so their posts are less likely to be forgotten

[Magnetic1]

"And where have your thoughts taken you Magnetic?
Does the concept of girls having their own space to learn, develop and grow bother you?"

Not in the slightest. My thoughts are that boys should have a space just for them as well though, like they used to... It's fair that they both should, no?

[PetulaGordino]

Perhaps you should start a boys' only group? I'm not sure that's something appropriate for feminists to take on. You would better understand the requirements of such a group

[PetulaGordino]

Whoops ignore that - forgot myself for a moment. This is a thread for men to offer advice

[PuffinsAreFictitious]

Have a little look into why girls were begged to join the scouts, and then you can come back and apologise. We'll even try to be magnanimous.

[AWholeLottaNosy]

How to give better BJs?

[Magnetic1]

Puffins, do you think the current situation is fair?

Brownies - Girls only
Cubs - Mixed

Nothing for boys only anymore. Boys deserve a space away from the girls too where they can just be among their own!