Unless you understand the real and by far the biggest reason for the gender gap, all suggestions for a solution will amount to nothing. You can't fix this by treating symptoms. You've got to address the root cause. Once you understand the real reason for the gender gap, all the pieces fall into place, and it becomes clear. Here's a hint: There is another gender gap in young children.
Looks like the WA proposal has 5 women and 2 men supporting it ... which is interesting.
Perhaps continuing to use the progress over the past 50+ yrs for women and girls as a measure isn't the most productive approach.
Feels to me like the actual issues and crises facing boys and men need to be viewed through a different lens and created in different ways. The women's movement came from enhancing women's natural strengths. Mirroring that may not be as successful for boys and men.
Figuring out how to use the naturally constructive strengths of boys and men might yield more productive results. And it might also take another half century of focused effort to bring the social, then political, economic and other changes needed to evolve.
Hmm, adding more commissions to neutralize the work the other commissions are doing? Maybe it would be a lot healthier (and cheaper) if we stop trying to put our thumbs on the scale?
The purpose of politics to work for all people, regardless of race, sex, or whatever. Having narrow interest commissions turns what should be out in the open and under political control into back room chamber lobbying and power games.
I agree with you, and it would be nice. But the thousands of feminist organisations, committees and groups that have evolved will not go anywhere. Lobbying for what they consider interests of women and girls became a profession for many (perhaps tens of thousands) of mostly women and they will not just stop tomorrow. So I think that we absolutely need specialised institutions and committees also for men and boys to make the debates about gender more diverse, inclusive and balanced.
"We can hold two thoughts in our head at once. We can be passionate about women’s rights and compassionate toward vulnerable boys and men…It is not a zero-sum game." That says it all. Of Boys and Men is an important thought provoking read.
This is fantastic! Great article and I am really looking forward to hearing how the trip to Washington goes. Encouraging to see the mix of supporters already!
Unless you understand the real and by far the biggest reason for the gender gap, all suggestions for a solution will amount to nothing. You can't fix this by treating symptoms. You've got to address the root cause. Once you understand the real reason for the gender gap, all the pieces fall into place, and it becomes clear. Here's a hint: There is another gender gap in young children.
Looks like the WA proposal has 5 women and 2 men supporting it ... which is interesting.
Perhaps continuing to use the progress over the past 50+ yrs for women and girls as a measure isn't the most productive approach.
Feels to me like the actual issues and crises facing boys and men need to be viewed through a different lens and created in different ways. The women's movement came from enhancing women's natural strengths. Mirroring that may not be as successful for boys and men.
Figuring out how to use the naturally constructive strengths of boys and men might yield more productive results. And it might also take another half century of focused effort to bring the social, then political, economic and other changes needed to evolve.
Hmm, adding more commissions to neutralize the work the other commissions are doing? Maybe it would be a lot healthier (and cheaper) if we stop trying to put our thumbs on the scale?
The purpose of politics to work for all people, regardless of race, sex, or whatever. Having narrow interest commissions turns what should be out in the open and under political control into back room chamber lobbying and power games.
I agree with you, and it would be nice. But the thousands of feminist organisations, committees and groups that have evolved will not go anywhere. Lobbying for what they consider interests of women and girls became a profession for many (perhaps tens of thousands) of mostly women and they will not just stop tomorrow. So I think that we absolutely need specialised institutions and committees also for men and boys to make the debates about gender more diverse, inclusive and balanced.
"We can hold two thoughts in our head at once. We can be passionate about women’s rights and compassionate toward vulnerable boys and men…It is not a zero-sum game." That says it all. Of Boys and Men is an important thought provoking read.
Thanks for all the work you do!
Thanks for all your work in this area.
This is fantastic! Great article and I am really looking forward to hearing how the trip to Washington goes. Encouraging to see the mix of supporters already!