Dreaming of a new world
My dream is that one day boys will become anything they want to be — male firewomen, gentleman taxi drivers, male surgeons or boy bosses.
Imagine if BBC Radio 4 Today’s Programme put men and men’s interests centre stage. Imagine if men’s writing was no longer a niche genre. Imagine the thrill of seeing male sports on mainstream TV! Imagine men occupying 33% of board positions. Imagine mum helping dad with the kids without being asked. Imagine if we had a whole year of men’s theatre instead of a special season for male playwrights. Imagine trusting men to make decisions about their own reproductive systems. Imagine paying men as much as we pay women in every sector. Imagine treating a man with respect, just in case he is someone’s son, father or brother.
We have a long way to go. Thank goodness 2018 is the Year of the Man.
However, we must be cautious about throwing the baby out with the bath water, as many women point out.
Lena is right. Whatever your views, we cannot turn a blind idea to nature, biology, science, history, and Neanderthal woman.
Nor can we shy away from the unfortunate fact that men just aren’t cut out to do some jobs.
Nor do they even want them.
At the end of the day, it’s all about individual choice.
And of course, men in other countries have it a lot worse.
Thanks to all my female allies on Twitter who support my dream.
A special shout out for female ally, Marie, who would make an excellent Minister for Men.
In the meantime, I hope to inspire boys and men to forget what their toys, parents, clothes, school, college, university, friends, books, films, TV, the internet, newspapers, adverts, language, politics and the legal system tell them.
Boys and men! We can be anything we want to be.
