Berlin Conference Addresses Male Troubles

Article here. Excerpt:

'German Family Minister Kristina Schröder has long had something of an adversarial relationship with the country's feminists. Not only has she refused to support hard quotas for women in top management positions, but she also has repeatedly broadsided "early feminism" or "feminists from the last century" for failing to recognize that "partnerships and children produce happiness." For many women's rights veterans, Schröder's book published last spring, in which she essentially declares the dawning of the post-feminist era, was something of a last straw.

Now, Schröder is wading even further into the gender debate. On Monday, she will open a two-day conference specifically focusing on issues specific to men as society strives to achieve gender equality. Called "Men's Policies: Contributions to a Gender Equitable Society," the gathering is the first such high-level conference ever held on men's issues in the German-speaking world. And, as Schröder has made clear, comes not a moment too soon.

"The demands made on men and women in today's society are changing," a Family Ministry spokeswoman told SPIEGEL ONLINE in a statement. "Many men do not want to live like their fathers and grandfathers. In addition to their careers, they want more time for their families. The changes in gender roles that women have experienced have made it necessary to open new perspectives to men outside of traditional roles."'

Related: Blog post discussing the conference. Agenda downloaded from here.