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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I honestly thought this was a piss take.

229 replies

Cavanchezmode · 26/03/2019 16:06

Menfest. I shit you not.

menfest.org/

OP posts:
avidreader4 · 27/03/2019 09:10

'This is THE most privileged section of society getting together because they feel in some way lacking or badly done to'

What on earth are you talking about? It's men wanting to get together with other men and enjoy themselves. Nothing to do with feeling hard done by. I've no idea what your issue is. There's plenty of women only clubs you can join. What a shame you're so bitter about people wanting to enjoy life with others similar to themselves (in whatever way that may be).

Bookworm01 · 27/03/2019 09:59

@Graphista Well said.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 27/03/2019 10:30

@WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll ah is that what it’s called? I call it, being an arsehole to get your point across because you disagree with mine. I’m just as entitled to my opinion as you are.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion and to express it.

In the same way, any men who want to go to the festival are entitled to do so - but you seem to have a problem with accepting this.

If it were billed as a 'Big Conspiracy to Upset NKFell Festival', then I'd be 100% behind you, but it's just a group of people wanting to get together to discuss things and spend time with each other based on a common characteristic, in this case being male (or male-identifying).

Feminism and equal opportunity is about liberating and elevating women - it isn't intended as a way to subjugate and pre-criminalise all males and to view their desire to participate in perfectly normal everyday activities as a threat and a determined insult to women.

Would you also object to the principle of abolition of slavery on the grounds that male slaves are freed as well as the female ones?

FrenchJunebug · 27/03/2019 10:58

and?!

MaintainTheMolehill · 27/03/2019 11:17

We all know that we live in a patriarchal society however that harms men too.

I have a 13 year old son who seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.
If there is trouble in school, it's the boys who are blamed automatically.
He wanted to join a computer coding lunch time club, he can't as it's girls only. He has been taught to hold doors open for girls, ladies before gentlemen etc.
He thinks when he grows up and gets married he will have to earn enough to support his wife and kids on his own as it's always the Mum who's a stay at home parent.
He gets upset at school when he feels unfairly treated but he can't show it because "boys don't get upset".

I think men should be getting together to show each other that it's ok to feel pressure and feel down, that it's ok to talk about depression, suicide, domestic abuse towards males etc as perhaps then their sons will grow up knowing that they are just as entitled to human emotions as women.

QueenOfTheTofuTree · 27/03/2019 11:30

And a female only computer coding club is a problem how exactly...?

I do agree with your other points but you can't defend a male only event whilst having a problem with a female only club. It's a double standard and hypocritical.

Jessgalinda · 27/03/2019 11:34

And a female only computer coding club is a problem how exactly...?

I think the OP means they should have one that boys can attend too.

And they should. Either a mixed class or boys only

Toomuchworking · 27/03/2019 11:35

So toxic masculinity is a problem, but it's also a problem for men to get together with other men to discuss mandom and feelings and generally have a nice time together? I'd very much encourage my husband and son to go if we were nearby.
I'm a member of a very similar thing on Facebook where women meet up in much the same way. Men aren't invited.

StormTreader · 27/03/2019 12:15

"... unlikely to be the same group who sit stone cold sober in a field, with their heads up their own backsides."

If they had drinks, this would be "sitting around getting pissed in a field". They really have no way to do this that you'd approve of, do they?

MaintainTheMolehill · 27/03/2019 12:40

Sorry yes the issue is that that is the only option. There is no club for boys interested in that subject. As well as that I don't think there are separate female and male issues when it comes to computer coding.

rritchie44 · 27/03/2019 12:42

Good for them.

rritchie44 · 27/03/2019 12:44

Also does OP not see the irony of posting this thread on a website called Mumsnet?

VioletCharlotte · 27/03/2019 12:51

I like this idea. It's about encouraging gentle male energy (as opposed to toxic masculinity) and giving men the opportunity to take part in yoga, healing and spiritual activity which are I'm all for more men doing. Men often feel unsure about these kinds of things as they tend to be mainly all women.

CallipygianFancier · 27/03/2019 14:57

It does sound a bit hippy-ish to me, and not the kind of thing I'd probably go to, but I can see it being a good thing for those who'd benefit it.

As for the idea that men don't need it because we're privileged, well, there's no shortage of men who really do have the world on a plate. But neither is their a shortage of them who have a pretty shit time of it in one way or another, and the latter don't need more of a kicking just for being the same gender as the former. If something like this helps them then it's a good thing, can't really see it hurting anyone else.

udnertheradar · 27/03/2019 15:08

I know the guy who is running this and he is absolutely lovely genuine person

StitchingMoss · 27/03/2019 15:19

But even those men who are “privileged” don’t necessarily have it easy. My doh earns a good salary but is under enormous pressure to maintain his job and support his family. Other male friends of mine struggle with mental health because of domestic abuse (one friend who was beaten by his fiancé and then laughed at by her friends for talking about it) or struggling with issues with their children or bereavement or whatever.

They struggle far more with emotional support to - and this is what so many of them need. My dh has recently started walking with friends and sees this as a form of therapy for all of them.

This shortsighted “patriarchy” crap from the OP and other posters isn’t helpful for men or women.

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 28/03/2019 18:45

Spot on stitchingmoss
I've seen my son deeply distressed after being told to 'find his balls' (from a female relative) when his gf caused a scene. He is a sensitive soul and had no idea what she meant - it just served to make him feel inadequate. Although he had dealt with the issue calmly and pragmatically - there was this idea he should somehow be overly assertive or ....well I don't know what really. We are all potentially victims of toxic masculinity regardless of gender.

NameChangeNugget · 28/03/2019 19:09

What a brilliant idea.

Not understanding why you’re getting excited by this OP

MaryMcCarthy · 29/03/2019 00:48

Should we arrange a 'chip on the shoulder' festival for the OP and the minority of responders here?

I've had a look and there are many positive, much-needed activities for men at this festival, including the sorts of reflection, meditation and self-analysis that are sadly lacking in everyday life.

Bemoan the toxic, inordinate influence of men in society all you want, I wouldn't disagree, but when you start witlessly sneering at something that is designed to help men be better people, then you're demonstrating what a shallow, unthinking sexist bigot you are.

AllTheJingleLadies · 29/03/2019 00:58

Bless. #notallmen and all that. I'm for it, if it's a way for men to connect and emote and generally share feelings about what it means to be a man these days. I'm growing into feminism more these days, but I have some men close to me who one might describe as "beta" and sometimes struggle with the new landscape and I think they are entitled to some space to explore that and come to terms with it.

2isur2isubicurtis4me · 29/03/2019 01:03

So men are only white?
God forbid men find a space to be with other men. Honestly I need my female friends and I love female only company. I also love mixed company.

IC4nSeeYourPixels · 29/03/2019 03:14

I have a 13 year old son who seems to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.
If there is trouble in school, it's the boys who are blamed automatically. Not sure what the solution is to this, dd is 14 and when there's trouble or something serious happens they investigate and don't blame anybody.

He wanted to join a computer coding lunch time club, he can't as it's girls only.

Nothing wrong with a female only coding club, can your son speak to a teacher about maybe him starting a male coding club? Or could you phone the school about arranging someone for the boys? Or look into after school coding type groups. Dd is one of a very small number of girls who have chosen computer sciences as part of her options, the school asked her and another girl if they'd help organise a club for the younger girls in the hope it'll encourage them choose it as part of their options. They have the only club during a lunch break twice a week but there's mixed sex alternatives and the boys are told they are free to organise a male only one if they wish but it's not happened yet, every now and then a parent will complain on Facebook about it not being fair but at their same time their son isn't bothered enough to give up his own time to organise and run a male club.

He has been taught to hold doors open for girls, ladies before gentlemen etc.-

Who is teaching him this though? You and his father can counteract this and tell him girls can open doors themselves but he should the door open for people who need help, men and women. If a boy is struggling to open a door with his hands full he should help, or if a boy or girls is going through right behind him then it's polite to keep it open but most girls are capable of opening it herself and he doesn't need to rush up and open it for her.

He thinks when he grows up and gets married he will have to earn enough to support his wife and kids on his own as it's always the Mum who's a stay at home parent.

Again, you and his father can teach him that it's not always the Mum at all. Teach him to be a hands on Dad, to take an equal share in the housework and looking after his children. You could discuss why it's often the woman giving up her job to stay at home, things like woman being paid more, or how housework and cleaning and looking after children is often seen as women's work and society not placing value in it so a lot of men don't choose it. If he doesn't want the traditional patriarchial family set up he doesn't have to.

He gets upset at school when he feels unfairly treated but he can't show it because "boys don't get upset".

In what ways does he feel schools been unfairly treated him? Assuming he freely expresses his emotions and discusses feelings with you and his Dad if they are being unfair with him can you speak to them yourself? Does he have an adult at school he likes and can talk to if it's pupils being unfair to him?

Kids pick up a lot views and expectiaons from those closest to him, if he thinks it's always the woman who stays at home is the because all the women he knows quit work? Does he see men in his family doing their share in their home? Did his Dad do a fair share of housework and childcare when they were growing up?

If you don't know any family or friends where the Mam doesn't work then point out families in the media where this isn't the case.

He doesn't need the world on his young shoulders, he should be worrying about getting good grades and having fun instead of his adult married life that he doesn't have to have if he doesn't want it.

IC4nSeeYourPixels · 29/03/2019 03:29

As well as that I don't think there are separate female and male issues when it comes to computer coding.

You might not think it but if it's benefitting the girls and giving them confidence in male dominated subject then they absolutely should have that group.
If it's one run by school, your son or you should ask them to provide one.

If it's girls who've organised their own on their lunch break then your son can do this too.

You can't tell the OP off for saying she thinks there's no need while saying you think there's no need for girls at you sons school to have their own lunchtime club the he can't join.

It makes you a hypocrite.

I support men organising themselves to tackle toxic masculinity without women's input and I support girls having their coding club without males, given it's a male dominated subject.

Jasmineallenestate · 29/03/2019 03:37

What a terribly insensitive post. I suppose this is the sneering capital of the internet, but even for AIBU pretty low.

NoineNoine · 29/03/2019 04:34

I was just wondering about privilege - is it okay if it's a Lgbt only mens fest? An Asian mens fest? A Muslim mens fest? Would you have issue with those?

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