This was written for a newsletter published by an organisation* working to make custody decisions in Australia centered on what is in the best interests for children, based on principles of justice and compassion, not in service to abusive husbands and fathers. It is for one woman in particular. May her daughter be returned to her soon, removed from the custody of the man who has abused them both.
*Here is the link to that organisation: www.safety4parentsandkids.org.au
The Heart of Justice
Articles
“Women are dumb,” Bryan* said, “they already have a thousand things going on in their mind about you, so when you ask her out, set a specific date and time; don’t leave it open-ended.” I think I almost choked on my dinner as I heard him advise my friend, Dave.* I did not want to get into an argument since I had not seen Bryan since high school, but his sexist remarks needed to be challenged.
Think for a minute about the strong female action heros of recent memory. Think also about their status as icons of feminism, as female empowerment personified. This articles explores the depiction of the modern cinematic female action hero, revealing how most are not the genuine feminist icons we hope them to be. Rather, and most unfortunately, most female action heros are only extensions of male fantasy.
What image pops up when you hear the term ''feminist''? Some might imagine unshaven legs and armpits, short hair and a shorter temper. Others might envisage a middle-class humanities academic - perfect prey for ''chardonnay socialist'' gibes. If you imagined both of these, well done. I have hairy pins, I'm bald, I have a background in the liberal arts - and I'm a feminist.
Myth:
Women routinely make up allegations of domestic violence and rape, including to gain advantage in family law cases. And women use protection orders to remove men from their homes or deny contact with children.
Facts:
- The risk of domestic violence increases at the time of separation.
- Most allegations of domestic violence in the context of family law proceedings are made in good faith and with support and evidence for their claims.
- Rates of false accusations of rape are very low.
- Women living with domestic violence often do not take out protection orders and do so only as a last resort.
- Protection orders provide an effective means of reducing women’s vulnerability to violence.
A group called the Christian Domestic Discipline (CDD) has been advocating relationships of "domestic discipline" applied, not toward the children, but toward the wives.
It has been claiming such "discipline" to be part of "traditional Christian marriage."
It is time that both be seen for what they are.
NOMAS, the National Organization of Men Against Sexism, is celebrating its 35th year with our National Conference on Men & Masculinity (M&M), and the 22nd Annual Men's Studies Association Meeting in partnership with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) 14th National Conference on Domestic Violence: Changing Faces of the Movement, in Anaheim, CA, July 31-August 4, 2010.
To read more, go to http://www.nomas.org/node/35
In this article, the author shows how seemingly obvious arguments proporting the demise of the male-dominated workplace actually offer men a unique means to approaching and understanding feminism for the first time.
This Information Paper focuses on men’s roles in progress towards gender equality. It answers two questions:
1) To what extent are men supportive of gender equality?
2) What can be done to engage men in progress towards gender equality?