The War On Equality...A Man's Point of View - A Multi-Part Series

Hello, Fellow Suffragettes And Suffragents!

Let me introduce you to Part One of my Men's Rights Series!

So. Men's Rights. As I started off on this journey to discover what's out there, and get the information I needed, I have to admit that I was - and this almost never happens - shocked at what little there was out there. Which is interesting..we have so much geared towards women, children, disabilities, LGBTQ, etc., that I just blindly assumed that it would be easy as pie to find what I need. Boy was I wrong.

So let's start with the easiest topic: The Media, as it relates to books, magazines and T.V. shows. For example; I was wandering through a store the other day with my son, browsing through the magazine section. As I looked for the magazine I wanted, I noticed that there were few magazines there that were for men. Sure, there was the "Porn Mag" section, the "Hunting and Fishing" section, and a couple of other ones. Now I have to admit that some of those mags I actually enjoy reading. Not all of them, lol, but you get the point. But here's the REAL point I'm making: There are NO Parenting Magazines geared towards men...there are no real "Man Power" magazines geared for men. And by "Man Power", I mean like women have Cosmo, and Redbook and Vogue. Literally no magazines out there saying to a man to hold his head high and be proud of who he is and be "Fierce". And I think those magazines should be out there. I think it would be AMAZING for a dad - single or otherwise - to be able to go into a store and pick up the latest "The Dad's Parenting Magazine" (Crappy Title, I know, lol, but the best I could come up with on short notice) without having to worry about getting strange looks in line. Or feeling inadequate.

And the "Man Power" magazines...isn't a guy's self-esteem and self-worth just as important as anyone else's? I think so. I think it would be great to see those magazines out there. I'd buy them for my son when he grows up. Hell, I'd buy just about anything that would teach my son that he is an important individual and should be proud of himself.

Next. Books. I know there's some great authors out there who write specifically for men. And a lot of them are great. But let's talk about those other books. Do you know where I'm going with this one? Dare I say the words? I'm going to...prepare yourself. HARLEQUIN ROMANCES. They are, by far, some of the most ridiculous forms of authorship I've ever read. And I'm guilty of reading them. Those books paint men as some hero who swoops in to save the day, all while romancing the pants right off of some woman and providing just enough drama to make it interesting. - which for ANY human being on this planet is next to impossible. And it distorts a woman's view on what a man is. Which, of course, then makes them look disappointedly at their partner, wondering where their steed and coat of arms are. Instead of celebrating the partner they love, they compare them to an impossible dream. Perhaps it's time to make some Harlequin Men books?

What's next? T.V.  Now. This one's a bit more difficult. Because how someone acts on screen can be radically different than how they are in real life. Take the male comic. On one hand, you've got a talented, respected artist who is a great role model for people everywhere, but make one wrong joke and suddenly you're the target of every rights group out there. Now, I don't condone making rape jokes, racist jokes, or anything of that type, but sometimes it seems that there's a rabid group of nay-sayers out there just waiting for the guy to slip up. Even if it's something that was innocuous.

Then there's the sitcom star. Like Charlie Sheen. Picked because he's the most notorious at the moment. Onscreen, he's pure magic. He seems - onscreen - to have it all. Offscreen, he's a huge mess..not as much as a few months ago, but still...and women see that, and suddenly, if you've been a fan of his, you're an asshole. Why? Because, my friends, it only takes one to give the rest a bad name.

I could go on. and on. and on. I won't, as there's so much more to this issue than just what I've written so far. Hence the reason it will be a multiple series.

So, let me close off these musings of mine  - which are really just a way for you all to get comfortable before we really hit the issues - by saying that I'm a "Traditional" Feminist. As in, I'm not a man-hater, not a people-hater. I am a Human Rights Activist and Blogger, and that really does mean that I advocate for everyone.-Although I draw the line at child murderers and Pedophiles (For my own reasons that I won't be sharing in this series.)

To the women who read my blog: The majority of you I already know are Traditional Feminists like me. Who want everyone's voice heard. I appreciate you raising your voices to help everyone be heard. Women's issues are not the only thing that's been going out the window in this past election. We have to make sure that equality happens for everyone. I appreciate your respect and encourage you to continue raising awareness for everyone.

**UPDATED**
The next article will be out on August 1st. (Originally planned for July 29, I'm waiting on some information before I can post this one) And that's when we get into the heavy stuff. Here's some of what we'll get into:
-It only takes one to give the rest a bad name
-workplace and home equality
-medical issues.

The article following that will be exclusively about:
-Parenting, parental rights, the Law.

Please, feel free to comment in the section below. Because, as I constantly tell everyone, in order to educate yourself, you must be properly informed. If you think I've mixed something up on this post, please let me know. If you have something you'd like to add, I would love to read it!

Please be respectful, as I will respect you in kind. Honesty, integrity is appreciated. Trolls and abusers will be dealt with swiftly.

With the Highest of Respect;

An Ordinary Woman
July 21, 2012
*this letter can be shared, however I do not authorize any alterations without my approval