Hi Jason,
It seems you’re concerned that women are only fighting for women’s benefits when they talk about feminist issues. While it understandable that you think so, (there are tons of anti-feminists who keep tossing out articles and YouTube rants claiming this as if it’s true, after all) it is however a rather uninformed view!
The reality is that women—feminists of all genders, to be precise—are already helping tackle a great deal of issues that are unfair or unequal towards men:
- Feminists are heavily involved in prison reform, drug decriminalization and harm reduction; issues that primarily affect men.
- Feminists work at rape crisis centers where they specifically train to help male rape victims (prison rape being a big part of it).
- Feminists fought to eliminate the draft, expand legal definition of rape to include men, added men to VAWA, expand parental leave to include both parents, and more.
- On fathers and custody of children, it is a myth that fathers rarely get custody: the truth is that fathers who ask for custody (and don’t give up on the request right away) are in fact very likely to get either sole or joint custody.
Your concerns for men’s rights and treatments in society are totally valid, but you seem to be listening to some anti-feminists when it comes to the actual facts. Unsurprisingly, anti-feminist people can’t really be trusted on the topic of feminism and feminists’ work to improve society. Feminists are working hard on the above issues and many others, taking the male side into consideration constantly, addressing problems that harm men, and supporting men when they are harmed by injustices.
So now you might be wondering what else you can do to help, being the outstanding male feminist that you no doubt are. For that I will point you to this great comment listing a number of ways you can support boys and men who need your help. There are so many little ways you can connect with other men (or boys), help them, provide guidance or support, that will have a real and tangible beneficial effect on their lives.
I hope you’ll join me—and millions of other feminists, of all genders—in working together to fight for women’s rights and for those of men. Because that, ultimately, is what our striving towards equality is all about.
