Men's rights movement
Encyclopedia
The men's rights movement emerged in the 1970s to address inequities in reproductive rights
, divorce
settlements, domestic violence
laws, and sexual harassment
laws. It now also includes education
, other father's rights, health care
, genital integrity
and more. Advocates are known as "men's rights activists," or MRAs. They see themselves as the oppressed providers. The men's rights movement claims that men suffer shorter lives, higher successful suicide
rates and higher incidents of most stress-related disorders
than women do.
The men's rights movement is concerned with a wide variety of issues, some of which have spawned their own groups or movements, such as the fathers' rights movement, concerned specifically with divorce
and child custody
issues.
Rich Doyle, Men's rights leader, writes of activists view of the Men's Rights movement feelings about the court system handling of divorces and child custody processes.
Like participants in most social movement
s, those concerned with men's rights comprise a wide variety of individuals and organizations, both united and divided in various ways on specific issues. Some groups are formally organized or incorporated, while others are casual alliances or the work of a few individuals.
The men's rights movement emerged in the United States
during the late 1970s to ensure equitable rights for men in the wake of the feminist movement. The "Men's Rights, Inc." and "Free Men, Inc." were both formed in 1977. Recognizing the need to address key issues among fathers, the father's rights movement also began during this time period.
The National Coalition of Free Men
was formed in 1981. Women who supported men's rights were Naomi Penner, a women's rights activist, who supported the creation of the National Coalition of Free Men and Christina Hoff Sommers
who wrote about some of the ways the feminist movement negatively affected boys and men.
The first major non-western men's rights organizations were formed in India in 2001, led by the The Save Indian Family Foundation
(SIFF), a registered non-profit headquartered in Bangalore that claims more than 30,000 members.
Men's rights activists argue that though 18,000 men commited suicide in 2009 due to family issues, 7,000 more than women for the same reason, there are no governmental services for male victims of domestic violence or at-risk for suicide.
Reproductive rights
Reproductive rights are legal rights and freedoms relating to reproduction and reproductive health. The World Health Organization defines reproductive rights as follows:...
, divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
settlements, domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
laws, and sexual harassment
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment, is intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature, or the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange for sexual favors. In some contexts or circumstances, sexual harassment is illegal. It includes a range of behavior from seemingly mild transgressions and...
laws. It now also includes education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, other father's rights, health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, genital integrity
Genital modification and mutilation
The terms genital modification and genital mutilation can refer to permanent or temporary changes to human sex organs. Some forms of genital alteration are performed at the behest of an adult, with their informed consent. Others are performed on infants or children...
and more. Advocates are known as "men's rights activists," or MRAs. They see themselves as the oppressed providers. The men's rights movement claims that men suffer shorter lives, higher successful suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
rates and higher incidents of most stress-related disorders
Stress-related disorders
Stress is a conscious or unconscious psychological feeling or physical situation which comes after as a result of physical or/and mental 'positive or negative pressure' to overwhelm adaptive capacities....
than women do.
The men's rights movement is concerned with a wide variety of issues, some of which have spawned their own groups or movements, such as the fathers' rights movement, concerned specifically with divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
and child custody
Child custody
Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.Following ratification of the United...
issues.
Rich Doyle, Men's rights leader, writes of activists view of the Men's Rights movement feelings about the court system handling of divorces and child custody processes.
Divorce courts are frequently like slaughter-houses, with about as much compassion and talent. They function as collection agencies for lawyer fees, however outrageous, stealing children and extorting money from men in ways blatantly unconstitutional... Men are regarded as mere guests in their own homes, evictable any time at the whims of wives and judges. Men are driven from home and children against their wills; then when unable to stretch paychecks far enough to support two households are termed "runaway fathers." Contrary to all principles of justice, men are thrown into prison for inability to pay alimony and support, however unreasonable or unfair the "obligation."
Like participants in most social movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
s, those concerned with men's rights comprise a wide variety of individuals and organizations, both united and divided in various ways on specific issues. Some groups are formally organized or incorporated, while others are casual alliances or the work of a few individuals.
- American Coalition of Fathers and ChildrenAmerican Coalition of Fathers and ChildrenThe American Coalition of Fathers & Children is an organization that promotes the reform of family law to increase fathers' rights. It is associated with the men's rights movement. ACFC has numerous affiliate organizations throughout the United States, including Parents Without Rights...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - Australian Men's Rights Agency (MRA), AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- Fathers are Capable Too (FACT), CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- Fathers 4 JusticeFathers 4 JusticeFathers 4 Justice began as a fathers’ rights organisation in the United Kingdom. It became prominent and frequently discussed in the media following a series of high-visibility stunts and protests often in costume. It was temporarily disbanded in January 2006, following allegations of a plot by...
, United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... - International Society For Men's Health & GenderInternational Society For Men's Health & GenderThe International Society for Men's Health is an international, multidisciplinary, worldwide organization, dedicated to the rapidly growing field of sex- and gender-specific medicine...
, International - National Coalition for Men, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Democratic Republic of GeorgiaDemocratic Republic of GeorgiaThe Democratic Republic of Georgia , 1918–1921, was the first modern establishment of a Republic of Georgia.The DRG was created after the collapse of the Russian Empire that began with the Russian Revolution of 1917...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... - New Zealand Equality Education Foundation, New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
- The Save Indian Family FoundationSave Indian FamilySave Indian Family , founded in 2005, is a men's rights movement in India. It is a registered, non-funded, non-profit, non-governmental organisation headquartered at Bangalore...
(SIFF), IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
The men's rights movement emerged in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
during the late 1970s to ensure equitable rights for men in the wake of the feminist movement. The "Men's Rights, Inc." and "Free Men, Inc." were both formed in 1977. Recognizing the need to address key issues among fathers, the father's rights movement also began during this time period.
The National Coalition of Free Men
National Coalition of Free Men
The National Coalition for Men , formerly the National Coalition of Free Men, is a non-profit educational & civil rights organization which looks at the ways sex discrimination affects men and boys. The organization has sponsored conferences, adult education, demonstrations and lawsuits. NCFM is...
was formed in 1981. Women who supported men's rights were Naomi Penner, a women's rights activist, who supported the creation of the National Coalition of Free Men and Christina Hoff Sommers
Christina Hoff Sommers
Christina Hoff Sommers is an American author and former philosophy professor who is known for her critique of late 20th century feminism, and her writings about feminism in contemporary American culture...
who wrote about some of the ways the feminist movement negatively affected boys and men.
Save Indian Family
Save Indian Family , founded in 2005, is a men's rights movement in India. It is a registered, non-funded, non-profit, non-governmental organisation headquartered at Bangalore...
(SIFF), a registered non-profit headquartered in Bangalore that claims more than 30,000 members.
Men's rights activists argue that though 18,000 men commited suicide in 2009 due to family issues, 7,000 more than women for the same reason, there are no governmental services for male victims of domestic violence or at-risk for suicide.
See also
- Father's rights
- Men's rightsMen's rightsMen's rights is an umbrella term, encompassing the political rights, entitlements, and freedoms given or denied to males within a nation or culture....
- Men's rights movement in IndiaMen's rights movement in IndiaThe men's rights movement in India is associated with various men's rights organizations.-History:The Indian men's rights movement was started by Ram Prakash Chugh in Delhi in the early 1980s in response to domestic violence legislation that was passed in the Indian parliament and the alleged...
- Other men's movements
- gay male liberationLGBT social movementsLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
- Men's liberationMen's liberationThe consciousness and philosophy of men's liberation is split into two factions. One is critical of the restraints which a patriarchal society imposes on men. This faction is informed by feminism. The other, critical of the restraints matriarchal society imposes on men, is informed by masculinism...
- mythopoetic men's movement
- Profeminists
- Promise KeepersPromise KeepersPromise Keepers is an international conservative Christian organization for men. While it originated in the United States, it is now world-wide...
,
- gay male liberation