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There's always one, isn't there? The douchebag who spearheads a society for white students because it isn't "fair" that the black kids have one. Well, folks, meet Steve Salterelli. This third-year University of Chicago student started a group called 'Men in Power,' which is supposedly aimed at bringing awareness to men's issues.
Sigh. Seriously, this "men's rights" schtick is so tired and irrelevant we're not even sure it's worth getting worked up over anymore. And it sounds like Saltarelli's whole thing started out as a joke, and he's just not funny enough to realize how played the bit is. But for the sake of those who take things like this seriously, we will say it (after the jump):
Groups like this already exist -- there are "men in power" at every major corporation and organization in America. According to Men in Power's Facebook page (members not listed, boo!), the group "provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate men at the University of Chicago to expand and sharpen their knowledge of business, politics, and networking -- giving them the skills they will need to become future leaders of the world." Nothing more unique than men running the world!
If the purported purpose of this group is to get "men ahead professionally," congratulations, the job's already done! Last time we checked, companies are still paying women less than men.
What do you think? Do stunts like this serve any purpose other than making us all tired?
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Thursday 28 May
By Sarah
There's nothing wrong with a men in power group. The fact that women complain about it only highlights there weakness. Why should women be allowed to have support groups and professional networking groups if men aren't? What's wrong with men supporting each other? A confident woman should not be threatened or offended by this.
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Wednesday 03 June
By ad
I wish I could reply to all of the bullshit comments on this page, but unfortunately I am not technologically savvy enough. So, I guess I'll have to write it here-- (apologies to Sara, I guess): Thanks Andrea! A 'Men in Power' group? Meaning, the entire world? How about: an 'American White Men Descended from Slave Holders Power' group. Or, I got it: a 'I've Called my Ex-Girlfriend a Stupid Bitch/Slut' group. Doesn't have the same ring, does it-- but I bet it'd have the same members!
Anyone who doesn't acknowledge sexism, racism and male dominance in culture is either willfully ignorant or brainwashed-- and both imply a feeble, uncritical mind. Where's America's female president? Where's that majority of female CEOS? Why are women still getting acid thrown at their faces for adultery in many, many countries, when adultery is not only accepted, but expected for their husbands? We're only two generations removed from women being able to vote, one from black women being able to bring their rapist to justice, and three decades from women being able to sue for sexual harassment-- in America, a developed nation. If you think men are denied rights now for being men, you clearly have your head up your ass. These men-- rich men, since they are founded at the University of Chicago-- should be rallying for equality for others before they whine about increased rights for their already privilaged gender and social strata.
If you need further convincing (and if your opinions can bear a little opposition), read a post about it on this blog:
imaginingagirlrevolution.wordpress.com
Thursday 28 May
By kathleen saltarelli
*saltarelli
not salterelli
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Thursday 28 May
By dennis Gardner
Sorry to hear that you feel this way about this group in chicago. Because there seems to be 9 similar women's groups and 5 similar gender neutral groups at that university, it seems silly for their to be one male group.
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Friday 29 May
By Martin
I think this is fantastic. If it promotes a pro-male perspective and not an anti-female one, then why would anyone care?
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Friday 29 May
By Ben
There has clearly been a concerted effort to undermine men on America's colleges and Universities. In the classroom young women are brainwashed into believing that men, especially white men are selfish, greedy, pigs who live for the domination and oppression of women, minorities and gays. This is just not the case.
In my opinion his group should be less about showing men how to succeed and more about deflecting the barrage of poisonous rhetoric that is spewed against anything male of America's campuses.
The divisions that have been created by feminists and racist minority groups with rage unjustified by the reality of 21st century America has done nothing more than create more anger, resentment and misunderstanding. Just the creation of this group caused your writer to call him a "douche bag". This is kind of hate speech that women, minorities and gays claim are inherently committed against them by our so called patriarchal society. Ironic, don't you think?
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Saturday 30 May
By Danny Noonan
Things I like:
1. Use of the word "douchebag" in the second sentence.
WTF::
1. "Nothing more unique than men running the world!" - Why the hatred?
2. 'Sigh. Seriously, this "men's rights" schtick is so tired and irrelevant we're not even sure it's worth getting worked up over anymore.' - Why the misandry?
3. "Last time we checked, companies are still paying women less than men." - While I disagree with your premise, tell me again how diversity, equal rights, quotas, empathy, and superior life experiences have helped you? Define "crazy" for me.
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Saturday 30 May
By Craig
Maybe people should earn their position in life and not rely special treatment, government mandates or quotas. Nobody just handed the reigns of power to anyone group of people - they achieved it. Capitalism is gender and race neutral - everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
Why would anyone expect the average wage of females to be equal to males when large percentages are taking significant time off from their professional careers to raise families. Those stats are intentionally misused.
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Saturday 30 May
By Linda
Finally! IF Steve's group is focusing on TODAY's issues of male empowerment then GOOD FOR YOU! I'm a 54 year old women (white if that's important) who has been saying for as long as I can remember (probably the last 15 years) that I've been asking "when men's lib goin to start?"
Old School, old boys clubs is beginning it's death march, mostly because it's incredibly out of touch with the way the world is today. If there's need to place the "white male" label on anytime one hears "male power", then you're probably right, but that's not the word that Steve is using Empowerment is much different than power and women should absolutely know that by now. you need to. Take Warren Farrell's brilliant analogy of learning to row on the opposite side of the boat. Over the last 50 years women fought for the right to row on the right side of the boat - a place where men ALWAYS rowed. Now men deserve the same right to learn to row on the left side as we did to row on the right. If equal opportunities don't exist to learn both, then Farrell's right: we have both genders rowing "right sided" in circles - going nowhere.
As a woman, I now have the right to chose which situations I want to put my strength forward and when I chose to expose my soft or more vulnerable side. If you think that should just be reserved for the female gender...then the ability to comprehend the need for male empowerment will probably go right over your head.
If I want to go out, run my own business or collect a paycheque from a corporation and my male partner would prefer to stay at home with the children, that should be an option. When that decision can be made WITHOUT the male being judged in any way as being weaker, lazy or any other label - only then will male empowement have been achieved and marriages/partnerships will truly begin to be an equal partnership.
On has to understand and make the distinction between POWER and EMPOWERMENT. Only one of them is unbelievably freeing.
But that's just the opinion of a woman who fought for the right to make the above comments based on experience. :-)
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Tuesday 02 June
By Tim
The author of this article, Ms. Zimmerman, seems to think that starting such an organization would be entirely redundant based on the faulty logic that all men are in a positions of power. Not only is this untrue, but such an argument possesses extreme prejudice, misandry (man hating), and faulty logic that is filled to brim with red herrings, particularly an appeal to spite against men based on the many years of struggle faced by women to have their own identities.
On the contrary, Ms. Zimmerman, not all men are in positions of power; not all men, including men of different races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds experience life, or the circumstances that are dealt in this life, in the same manner. Yet, similar to the feminist groups that have formed over the past 30 years, there is a commonality that could be realized through such a group, and that is the realization that despite these racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences, they all have one thing in common: They are all men. These "men" are connected by their gender that produces similar physiological, emotional, and mental traits that are worth addressing, discussing, and pondering as it relates to moving up professionally.
Would it be fair to deny men the opportunity to explore their gender in an academic and professional environment?
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Wednesday 03 June
By Mikey M
"men's rights group schtick is so tired and irrelevant "
Well it is becoming more relevant before any talk about mens issues were ignored know it is ridiculed this is because it is showing an increasing awareness from many personalities in the media and the public in general this story from the mens group at U of Chicago already made news on many TV shows and articles in newspapers there are attempts from a few to discredit this initiative at the University but like the writer who called the leader a (Dou...) you are so irrelevant we're not even sure it's worth getting worked up over anymore
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Thursday 04 June
By Sarah
Ad, a great portion of you comment is irrelevant to the article as it give examples of how women are treated "in many parts of the world" and the group in the article pertains only to a group of men at the University of Chicago. Additionally, it is my understanding that this particular group is not in response to men feeling that they have been denied rights but rather a support group to encourage men to be the best they can be and a network to help them connect with others. How can people look down on this? For too long now men/boys have taken a bashing from insecure females. Men don't need to be brought down for females to be elevated. Finally, the reason we haven't had a female president is the best that has come forth is Hilary and thats not something I even want to get started on. I have a feeling though that as more people like you begin to scream about the need for a female in power, a wild scramble will begin to find someone, anyone, to stick behind a podium, example, Sarah Palin.
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