Reply #42: I certainly understand

[BoneDaddy]

your situation, but even though you may not believe me, there are alot of men who support women, especially in the Western world. I work with a large indian/pakistani population and it is a struggle for me not to say what is on my mind yet still stay workable. It is maddening for me, so I can only imagine what you may be experiencing. It is so true that we gain perspective when we attempt to walk in one another's shoes.

I grew up in a relatively loving family where my mother probably weilded more power than my father in alot of things. Men and women were treated with respect. I have had wonderful teachers/mentors who have been both men and women and I currently work in an office where I am the lone male of eight women.

That said, I have experienced a tremendous backlash from the "progressive" community of radical ideological feminism. Granted I may understand it, but I do not agree with it. I will not be lumped into a category of abusers nor will the reason oriented side of me accept vast generalizations. Patriarchy is extremely abusive to men too, you forget. Innocent boys are conditioned to deny the feminine in themselves and are not encouraged to access "soft" emotion. Instead patriarchy demands us to cut a part of ourselves out. In my experience boys and young men do more damage to one another than they do to women. The victims of violent crimes are overwhelmingly male. Patriarchy as an institution pollutes both genders. The only way we will defeat it is by working together.

Good luck and be well.