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Submitted by John Curtis - "Questions for Dr. Farrell":
Dr. Farrell,
Thank you very much for your continuing efforts to support fairness
and equality between the sexes. Your work has had a great impact on
our society and on me personally.
As men are not organizing themselves well yet, certainly not as well
as feminists have organized, do you see any positive effort that men
as individuals can make to help men, women, families, and children?
The men's movement does not have any widely recognized leaders, (other
than yourself) do you see anyone that men can organize behind or
assist? And, what do you feel would be the best area for men to work
in, to help achieve fairness in our government and legal systems?
Thanks very much, and please keep up the good work.
John Curtis
Ojai, CA
----
Dear John Curtis,
Good questions. The main barrier to the men's movement making progress
is the hundreds of thousands of years of evolution that have developed in
men a protector instinct toward females, and have led to females choosing
men who are protectors. It is difficult to lead a movement confronting
those you are supposed to protect, especially when you are dependent on
them for love, affection, respect, approval, and sex.
The first solution is decreasing our dependence -- learning to also
receive love, affection, respect, and approval from men. More information
on this in Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say.
The second is working on issues related to boys and sons, since women
have a protector instinct toward children. Check out Christina Hoff
Sommers' The War Against Boys and Michael Gurian's The Wonder of Boys.
The third solution is focusing on father's issues, since that also
benefits children and there is a critical mass of men, families, etc.,
that can identify personally with those issues. This is the reason my
next book will be called Father and Child Reunion.
One of the most productive issues we can focus on is a men's birth
control pill. I outline the reasons for that, and the current status of
the research, in Father and Child Reunion.
Submitted by an Anonymous User:
There seems to be a growing ground swell of anger among men today
aimed at feminism and the inequities that men suffer both under the
law and as practiced by society at large. Do you forsee any kind of
increased backlash against feminism and or women in general?
----
Dear Anonymous User,
Often the word 'backlash' is used to prevent ourselves from hearing
what is being said. It helps to look at what men are saying as men trying
to be included in the process of gender transition rather than excluded.
The feminist movement has become gender politics' one-party system, and
the reason all one-party systems become corrupt is because they don't
have to listen to feedback. Do a careful read of Why Men Are The Way They
Are and Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say and then let me know if you
have a different perspective.
Submitted by Skippy:
I have been trying to buy another copy of The Myth of Male Power, and
I have been having trouble finding one. If there is one book that
feminists (and a lot of other women) don't want men to read, this is
the one. Is the book still in print? If not, what can we do to get
this book back on the market again?
----
Dear Skippy,
You said you couldn't get hold of The Myth of Male Power and asked if
it is still in print. Yes, you are correct -- it is the book that has the
most impact. The bad news is that it is out of print. The good news is
that it is supposed to be back in print in January. If you would like a
copy before January, I have some left. You may send me a check for $14.95
to:
Dr. Warren Farrell
PMB 222
315 S. Coast Hwy 101, Suite U
Encinitas, CA 92024-3555
It would also be helpful if you logged onto the Putnam/Berkley site and
asked about when the book is coming back into print. They are at
www.penguinputnam.com; then just click on the Contact Us option down the
left side menu and email them.
Submitted by Kyle Knutson:
Although I was wise enough not to have purchased Michael Kimmel's
book, "Manhood in America", I have taken the time to read substantial
portions of it at my local library. I will also say that I've read
some of his other writings and I did see him once on the Phil Donahue
show several years ago. To be blunt, Mr. Kimmel seems to suffer from a
severe attitude problem -- sexist and misandrist to the core. Perhaps
he's just trying to ingratiate himself with all manner of feminists to
whatever extent possible, with all regard for truth, honesty, and
objectivity cast aside. In any event, he strikes me as a very sad man
indeed.
Be that as it may, what is or was your reaction to his above mentioned
title, specifically the chapter where he calls you such things as
'whiner' and 'chameleon'? Have you ever been able to engage Mr. Kimmel
in a serious discussion about men's issues and the myriad prejudices
and discriminations that men face? Or does he just go ballistic at any
suggestion that the world out there is something other than the
never-ending domination and oppression of innocent, wonderful women by
evil, brutish men?
In a society and culture filled with far, far too many Michael Kimmel
types, I cannot say enough in praise of the Warren Farrells of the
world.
Kyle Knutson
National Coalition of Free Men
Twin Cities Chapter
----
Dear Kyle,
Thank you for your positive responses to my work and for your questions
about Michael Kimmel.
I have had a half dozen or so contacts with Michael. My one-to-one
discussions have been fairly positive, but as soon as he gets in public,
especially on TV, he becomes verbally abusive and takes a hard-line stand
that men are the oppressors and therefore anything that happens to men is
their fault, created by their rules. I have learned slowly over the years
to not focus my attention on the idealogue, or on his or her motives, but
to say what I feel is right, listen to where I may be wrong, make
changes, and then put it out there and take what comes.
Submitted by The Mule - "Where Are Men's Reproductive Rights?":
Dr. Farrell, you have had your attention focused on various ways which
men are discriminated against, and spoken and written at length about
your findings and thoughts. As there is a growing consciousness about
discrimination against men as to reproductive rights, it becomes
obvious that this particular inequality gives rise to some of the most
widespread and egregious atrocities visited upon men. Why has there
been little to no coverage in this area by you or others in the media?
----
Dear 'the Mule,'
You are correct that until now I have given minimal attention to men's
reproductive rights. For the past 13 years I have been working on
research and writing drafts of my thinking in this area. It will be
published next January as Father and Child Reunion
(Tarcher/Putnam/Penguin). In Father and Child Reunion, I outline Men's
ABC Rights, or, more precisely, Men's and Women's ABC Rights and
Responsibilities for decision-making in the areas of Abortion, Birth
control, and Care of child.
Submitted by Michael Osterbuhr, mdo9318@labs.tamu.edu - "Uniting Men's
Groups":
Dr. Farrell,
What do you see as the potential for a political unification of the
various and sundry branches of the "men's movement"? :)
- Michael Osterbuhr
mdo9318@labs.tamu.edu
----
Dear Michael,
I think it is helpful to have conferences and conventions that create
unifying themes, and help us join forces where that can be useful. But
unity often leads to bureaucracy, political correctness, and the
suppression of diversity. That, in turn, undermines the initiative of
individuals with different ideas or newcomers. Over time, if we become a
force in the social consciousness, we will receive funding which will
lead to unifying organizations and conferences. I look forward to that
time as long as we keep attention simultaneously focused on encouraging
diversity.
In Canada, David Shackleton is doing a Unity Trek to bring some unity to
their diverse men's and fathers' groups.
Submitted by an Anonymous User - "Keeping books in print.":
I notice a lot of books on men's rights disappear after a very short
time, and as an author yourself, do you have any ideas or suggestions
on how to keep books on men's issues in print? Any really
male-friendly publishing companies you'd recommend that don't have
high sales quotas to keep a book on the shelves?
----
Dear Anonymous User II ('Keeping books in print'),
Yes, men's issues books disappear quickly, and only a small fraction of
those written appear at all.
The real solution is buying ones that are printed. Once publishers see a
men's book is selling well, they will jump on the band wagon to publish
more, and few publishers drop something from print that is making them
money.
Tarcher/Putnam is quite male-friendly.
Submitted by sean beeson:
Dr. Farrell, who if anyone do you still have contact with from your
days with NOW and are they at all sympathetic to men's issues?
-:)))s sean beeson
----
Dear Sean Beeson,
I still have contact with Karen DeCrow, a former president of NOW, who
has become quite sympathetic to equality in the area of fathering.
Unfortunately, though, she is the exception.
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