Do Fathers Matter?
By Pat Bakalian on June 20, 2009 at 5:30 PM in Gender Bias, Sexism, Women and Children
Father’s Day is a time to acknowledge the unique role dads have in raising the next generation of boys and girls. Both men as well as women need to be actively involved in raising children.
Dr. Michael S. Kimmel asks in his article Why Men Should Support Gender Equity
Why should men participate in the movement for gender equality? Simply put, I believe that these changes among men will actually benefit men, and that gender equality is not a loss for men, but an enormously positive thing that will enable us to live the kinds of lives we say we want to live.
… Rather than resisting the transformation of our lives that gender equality offers, I believe that we should embrace these changes, both because they offer us the possibilities of social and economic equality, and because they also offer us the possibilities of richer, fuller and happier lives with our friends, with our lovers, with our partners and with our children. We, as men, should support gender equality—both at work and at home.
We salute fathers who are raising young boys and girls to value gender equality. There are many organizations working to do just that on Father’s Day and all year long. Campaign for Gender Equality would like to thank them for their important and much needed work. Here are a few:
National Organization for Men Against Sexism We affirm that working to make this nation’s ideals of equality substantive is the finest expression of what it means to be men. We believe that the new opportunities becoming available to women and men will be beneficial to both. Men can live as happier and more fulfilled human beings by challenging the old-fashioned rules of masculinity that embody the assumption of male superiority.”
MenEngage
We believe that questioning men’s and women’s attitudes and expectations about gender roles is crucial to achieving gender equality.
Founding Fathers We believe boys should be taught that violence does not equal strength.
Understanding the benefits of gender equality is not enough. While growing up, heavy gender expectations are placed on both sexes. Boys and men learn from their fathers and through their relationships how society expects them to treat women. Because there is a close connection between these expectations and sexism, it is important to break down unhealthy expectations before full gender equality can be achieved.
Thank those fathers for being open and learning about what they can do to achieve gender equality for all. Suggest that they read Why Men Should Support Gender Equity and The Family Violence Prevention Fund’s 8 Ways to Coach Boys into Men.
Sincerely,
Shawn, John and the Campaign for Gender Equality Team
Please visit us: here.
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Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads.
Thanks, Pat Bakalian, for the interesting links to very positive-sounding groups.
we are partners not rivals.
HAPPY DADS DAY ALL
That was marvelous!
Happy Father’s day, everybody!
Where are you guys? I something happening in the world or not?
To answer the question in the headline: Yes!
I have always said that my father formed my backbone and kept it straight. When he died, I felt for a while like one of those deboned fish lying out ready to be fried. But as the shock of his sudden death wore off, and after the intense grief subsided, I realized my Dad’s strenght was still there guiding me. I always judged men by him and how he treated my mother.
My older son and his wife just had a baby boy, only a little over two months ago. What a lucky baby and what a lucky wife. I am so proud of the men both my sons have become. They know how important it is to treat women with respect, as equal partners in the world.
Ask Michael & Marcus Vick if a father in your life matters. They didn’t have one , look at the wonderful lives of these two talented idiots….
Happy Father’s Day!
Hey Obama took his kids for ice cream is that not sweet, he sure is a great dad.
Now here comes the media fawning all over this feat performed by Obama for Father’s day geez I really don’t know how lower the MSM will go running after Obama, and calling it news.
My father died in 1995 and I hope he knew how much I loved him. Happy Father’s Day to all the daddies out there.
For Fathers Day, I’d like to ask all Fathers to Rethink Afghanistan.
ALL FATHERS.
We are causing the Afghani’s to lose their livihood, their lives and peace. We have out numbered all of last years raids on Paki and Afghanistan so far this year.
They did nothing to us and yet we are torturing, hurting and killing them.
STOP THE WAR, This is not a “right war” Obama.
…this is what you are doing.
http://rethinkafghanistan.com/?utm_source=rgemail#video
Yes,fathers matter. However, It is Men, particularly, low-income Men, that need to be liberated, here. It is men who must be given equality with women, not the other way around. Michael Kimmel must be in a time warp to believe otherwise. Men, on average, live shorter lives than women. They are more likely to be homeless, die in wars, etc. Rich Men are discriminating against low-income Men, not women. Who really needs to be granted equality? Get a clue.