Sir, – What surprises me most in Mark Paul's long diatribe on feminism is that he presents the benefits of including men in the feminist discourse as if it had never occurred to feminist activists in the first place ("Feminists busy shooting themselves in the foot", Opinion & Analysis, June 15th). Of course men should be included in the fight for equality – beyond the fact that men suffer from gender discrimination too, how exactly are we supposed to achieve equality without the co-operation of half of the population?
But more importantly, I'd like to think that men have sufficient self-awareness and courage to get involved in the gender equality debate without being asked to do so. I know many male feminists, and I doubt they appreciate Mark Paul's plea to be allowed into the conversation. There is no need for him to generalise about women generalising about men. We know that not all men attack, hurt or oppress women, but I will not ask him to give us more credit than that.
I am curious about the awful “loudest feminists” that your columnist describes in his article. If he does indeed wish to participate in the fight for gender equality, I would be happy to point him in the direction of wonderful, open-minded feminists who could teach him about the dangers and the utter uselessness of generalisations and name-calling. Assuming I and they forgive him for calling us “angry chickens with machine guns”.
I would like to thank Mark Paul for his unflattering portrayal of both men and feminists. His condescension towards women and men fighting for gender equality merely proves why we still need feminism. – Yours, etc,
CHARLOTTE FARRAR,
Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
Sir, – I would like to say that as a middle-class, straight, white woman and a member of the settled community. I really try not to take it personally when it is pointed out that the Travelling community experience discrimination or that homophobia exists. Nor do I consider it a personal attack when class inequalities in Ireland are highlighted.This is not to say that I engage in racist or discriminatory behaviour myself but I understand that racism and discrimination exist; and that as a member of society with privilege and power, I have a responsibility to work actively to change the structures and behaviours that perpetuate discrimination and inequality.
Perhaps your columnist might feel happier and less under attack if he took this approach. Pointing out that women experience violence at the hands of men in much greater numbers than men do at women’s hands, and that women experience much greater levels of sexual harassment, is not a personal attack on any man; it is merely highlighting the facts. – Yours, etc,
HILARY DALY,
Stepaside,Dublin 18.
Sir, – Mark Paul appears to misunderstand the asymmetric power dynamic underpinning the concept of rape culture and sexual consent.
As an average-sized, thirty-something male, I am likely to be much bigger, physically stronger and in a better paid and more authoritative job than a woman of a similar age. I have never been sexually assaulted, I have never been groped, I do not have to check every street or road for emergency exit points should I wish to go for a run early in the morning or when returning home from the pub late at night. I have never been sexually harassed at work, in the street or on public transport.
Whether rape culture actually exists is a moot point, but while such a skewed power dynamic favours one gender over another, I suggest “checking your privilege” before proffering advice to women on the subject.
In any event, ordinary men do not need the approval of feminists to tell their male friends and colleagues that cat-calling and sexual assault are wrong. – Yours, etc,
CÍAN CARLIN,
London.