Let me start off by saying that I’m a woman. I don’t bow down to others, and I know and assert my rights as a human being. I think that it is only fair that I never be judged by my gender, because I am more than that.
Simon Fraser University’s student society recently approved the budget for the opening of a new Men’s Centre in an effort to address issues specific to men and to create equality for their students (who do already have a Women’s Centre).
The news made me proud of Canada’s superb showing of gender equity. The backlash that followed, however, made me think again.
Allowing students to access resources specific to their gender or gender identity isn’t a new concept.
In 1976, the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) opened the Womyn’s Centre to assist women in a plethora of different ways, and for 37 years it has acted as a space for women to relax and feel understood. The Womyn’s Centre has services like breastfeeding space, menstrual supplies, and workshops for sexual assault survivors and single mothers.
It should follow that those who support a Womyn’s Centre should also support a Men’s Centre. But many (let’s be clear, not all) feel that a Men’s Centre would only foster an environment that condones sexual violence and promote misogyny.
A Youtube video campaign calling on students to “Vote No” to the proposed Simon Fraser University’s Men’s Centre went so far as to allege that the centre would serve as “a room with a PS3 and a bunch of douchebags playing video games.”
Equality is defined as the state of being equal, which seems simple enough. By that understanding, if there’s a Women’s Centre, then there should be a Men’s Centre. If women have gender-specific issues, then it should follow that men do too.
Unfortunately, while we as a society seem able to comprehend and accept that women’s issues are real and valid concerns, we turn a blind eye to men’s issues.
For those who think a Men’s Centre would be for playing World of Warcraft and talking about how fun and acceptable sexual assault is, there are some things I think should be brought to light.
First, I cannot stress enough that men are often the victims of sexual assault. They are also the least likely victims to report sexual crimes against them. Countless men are assaulted and harassed by women and other men each year, and to downplay that is serving an injustice against these survivors.
Second, there are unique health concerns specific to gender. The same way a man can’t get ovarian cancer, a woman cannot get prostate cancer. Gender-specific centres can foster advocacy, support groups, and awareness of these diseases.
Third, the Womyn’s Centre helps women deal with body image issues. Men feel pressure to conform to the media’s unattainable standards of beauty, but do so without the same support networks in place that women do. The result is health problems such as eating disorders, exercise disorders, and steroid use.
During our years at university, it is crucial that your brain and emotional well-being are in healthy, working order to perform at the highest potential.
How can a man do this if he is suffering from inequality? He can’t.
Women are perfectly capable of surviving and thriving in today’s society. What’s so wrong with men thriving too?
I’m a human being. I don’t bow down to others, and I know and assert my rights. I think that it is only fair that I never be judged by my gender, because I am more than that. What about you?
