Meninism

I just saw a segment on TV (Weekend Sunrise) on what they referred to as meninism - the movement against negative perceptions of men in the media. The speakers drew parallels to the demonisation of Muslims in the media - they did not dispute that there are Muslim terrorists, but they did dispute that this inferred that all Muslims are terrorists.

I guess that some will disagree, but I believe that there is something to this. That negative perceptions of men in the media will lead to boys growing up with expectations that they will behave badly, and that some will behave badly as a result.

I know that this is not something that the media invented. If it is wrong to blame all Muslim people for the actions of a few, is it not also wrong to blame all men for the actions of some ratbags? That there are ratbag men cannot be disputed.

It is a bit like the deed vs breed debate that the Pit Bull Terrier people and others are having with the RSPCA here in Australia at the moment. The dog owners say "if the dog does something wrong, then act" whereas the RSPCA seems to be saying "if it is a pit bull, kill it before it can do something wrong". As a man I am not sure that I can and should be responsible for the sins of all men. I should be responsible for my own actions.

I have not raped, nor killed innocent road users drinking and driving, nor contributed to the misery of the people of Iraq. All of these things are very wrong, but not my fault.