Comment for your piece, Sara: Men are, especially young men, sadly lacking in role models and quality guidance. I can’t pretend to have done much about this in my life, but I do work with some younger folks and I try to show them when I have the chance. Life is much better with a partner, but it’s an earned thing, not a given thing.
I listened to a great podcast a few years ago about how the focus on “women can do anything” left men with “nothing to do.” I was not a criticism of feminism; it was a call to action for society to also expand the definition of what men are capable of. One of the statistics that struck me was that there is a higher percentage of female jet pilots than male kindergarten teachers. If boys saw male teachers at a younger age, if men were cared for by male nurses, if being an administrative assistant and also male were normal and not noteworthy, then the concept of male role model would include care, compassion and support. The first step is recognizing the problem. Thanks for the work you are doing in this area. It’s so important!
The truth is we’re all human beings. When we limit our roles we also limit our potential, and that of those we come in contact with. I was never much interested in just walking around with a club and telling ‘dumb blond’ jokes, but when I talk to other men that’s a lot of what I see- because that’s what we’ve been taught to do, and we’re afraid of what might happen if we try anything else. With that sort of basis to start from, is it any wonder so many men are lonely and pissed off? Women too. Not to get political, but women have a vote too. When they vote the way their husbands, fathers, and clergy tell them to, we end up with the challenges we’re facing now. On November 3rd we can vote to permanently enshrine a woman’s right to choose in the Nevada State Constitution. I’m not going to guess or judge your feelings on that subject, but I’m damn well going to go down to the polls with my wife and make sure it happens.
11 responses to “An Open Letter to “Not All Men””
WordPress/Jetpack has been doing some weird things lately. Is your post meant to be blank?
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This week it is two images. Sorry, they are not coming through for you!
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I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t a host error. It happens.
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It comes through on Reader but not Jetpack. Yours is doing it, too. Jolene.
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Great. 😬
I’m sorry y’all. 😢
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Well, I can see it. Stupid WordPress. 🙄
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Comment for your piece, Sara: Men are, especially young men, sadly lacking in role models and quality guidance. I can’t pretend to have done much about this in my life, but I do work with some younger folks and I try to show them when I have the chance. Life is much better with a partner, but it’s an earned thing, not a given thing.
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I listened to a great podcast a few years ago about how the focus on “women can do anything” left men with “nothing to do.” I was not a criticism of feminism; it was a call to action for society to also expand the definition of what men are capable of. One of the statistics that struck me was that there is a higher percentage of female jet pilots than male kindergarten teachers. If boys saw male teachers at a younger age, if men were cared for by male nurses, if being an administrative assistant and also male were normal and not noteworthy, then the concept of male role model would include care, compassion and support. The first step is recognizing the problem. Thanks for the work you are doing in this area. It’s so important!
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The truth is we’re all human beings. When we limit our roles we also limit our potential, and that of those we come in contact with. I was never much interested in just walking around with a club and telling ‘dumb blond’ jokes, but when I talk to other men that’s a lot of what I see- because that’s what we’ve been taught to do, and we’re afraid of what might happen if we try anything else. With that sort of basis to start from, is it any wonder so many men are lonely and pissed off? Women too. Not to get political, but women have a vote too. When they vote the way their husbands, fathers, and clergy tell them to, we end up with the challenges we’re facing now. On November 3rd we can vote to permanently enshrine a woman’s right to choose in the Nevada State Constitution. I’m not going to guess or judge your feelings on that subject, but I’m damn well going to go down to the polls with my wife and make sure it happens.
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Oops, like most people, when I say I’m not going to get political, it inevitably means the opposite. Sorry ‘bout that.
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Everything is political!
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