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Last revised: December 1, 1996

MATTERS OF RACE & GENDER
by Beth Grimes

     Of all human differentiating characteristics, none are more important
than race and gender. None of us had the opportunity to choose our
parents, country of origin, skin color or sex. Bias against any human being
because of any of these factors is so obviously unjust that we need to
ask, and keep on asking, why it is so prevalent. 
     Maybe one reason is that there are organizations all over the country,
including our own county, keeping prejudice alive, driving wedges between
men and women, black and white. This is a time- honored tactic to keep us
divided and vulnerable to exploitation and dehumanization. 
     There are hundreds of studies and mountains of statistics which show
that women and people of color have fewer educational and employment
opportunities, skinnier paychecks and less representation in the ranks of
business leaders and government. But you wouldn't know it if you listened
only to spokesmen for some  (only some) branches of the Mens Movement.
     A few months ago, Joe Manthey, the Sonoma County leader of Men &
Women for Gender Justice, expressed concern for the plight of homeless
men, appearing especially solicitous of African-American men. He joined
other advocates for shelter in taking the issue to the Board of Supervisors. 
This is not only commendable but seems to point to an attitude of racial
inclusiveness.
      However, during a Manthey-organized Mens Health Forum one
Saturday shortly before the election, attenders were urged to vote for
Prop 209, the measure on the ballot which eliminated affirmative action
policies for black men and other minorities, and women. Apparently his
group saw nothing inconsistent in their support for 209 and their
purported concern for black men.
     One of the lecturers at the Health Forum was Warren Farrell, author of
"The Myth of Male Power".  Farrell is highly regarded by members of
Men & Women for Gender Justice. He is also well respected and
frequently quoted by the National Coalition of Free Men, which calls
"Myth of Male Power" "...by far the best book anyone can purchase to get
a solid overview of men's issues..."
     Since his book is so important to this branch of the Mens Movement,
and to Sonoma County's Men & Women for Gender Justice, it deserves
scrutiny.  
     On the issue of homelessness, Farrell quotes a statement from an
"official report on California's homeless" that "While women are a small
part of the homeless, they face special problems." He adds, "But there was
no section on the problems men face."  The biggest "special problem" of
women who must sleep on the streets is the danger of being raped, a
problem not generally faced by adult men outside of prison.  
      We know what the root causes of homelessness are: cuts in
government funding for housing, deindustrialization, poverty, high levels
of unemployment (especially in the black community), lack of money for
health care, corporations moving jobs offshore -- to name a few. 
     Farrell and people who think like him do not deal with any of those
causes. The only suggestion we find in his book for alleviating the
problem of lack of shelter is to bring the level of help for homeless males
up to that provided to homeless females. Not much of a solution. Oh, yes,
he does personally go out and give homeless men food and blankets. The
latter is a worthy thing to do, but it's a little like putting a bandaid on a
huge infected open wound.
     Homelessness is just one of many problems the nation has today. 
Warren Farrell discusses some of them in his book.  But  the reader
looking for solutions would be well advised to look elsewhere. 
     He skips over the fact that one in four American children live in
poverty. His only child-related concern is for their fathers. Dads are, he
says, being deprived of their children by the "bias" of the court system,
greed of lawyers in the "divorce industry" and malicious ex-wives. This is
the extent of his concern for kids.
     National Coalition of Free Men is sponsoring (could we have a drum
roll please)  "PURPLE HEARTS FOR FATHERHOOD WEEK" Nov.
16-23.  On the 23rd, each man will receive a purple heart award for the
wounds they received by having their children "ripped away from them".
They intend to wear these purple hearts so they can show their children
"proof of our courage in fighting the system". This action is an outrageous
insult to every veteran who got a Purple Heart after getting actual, painful,
physical wounds.  And it also won't help kids anywhere.
     
     Another activity of Farrell-blessed men's groups were the recent
demonstrations outside theaters where "First Wives Club" was showing.
They organized to show they were mad as hell about all that male-bashing
and they weren't going to take it any more! 
     We don't make this stuff up, folks. We can only ask what important,
socially responsible purpose these guys had in mind. It's only a movie after
all.
     Farrell's book is one long rant which can be summed up as: "All our
problems are women's fault". And thinking like his guides NCFM and
allied "Fathers Rights" groups. 

******

     Fortunately, these aren't the only Men's Movements in the country and
Manthey's Men & Women for Gender Justice is not the sole voice
speaking for men in our own County. There are good guys out there. But
that's another discussion for another day.     

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