My journey through gender equality advocacy has been one of two starkly different halves. When I tell people about my support of women, I do so to more or less exclusive approval and applause. The stories of standing up to cat callers and to confronting misogynists are warmly welcomed; my time spent homeless in London raising money for vulnerable women, a proud feather in my hat. And whilst it’s not why I did these things, I can’t help but noticed how it’s made me socially, intellectually and dare I say it, sexually, more attractive. Then I move onto part two. I’ll talk about boys failing in school, the unique criminalisation of gay men historically, the abysmal male life expectency, or the abused men shut out from refuges, and suddenly the situation changes. The environment runs cold, smiles are wiped from faces, and nodding heads grow stiff. Often outage and condemnation follows. To them I’ve fallen down some kind of rabbit hole. My views are problematic. Ignorant. And somehow misogynistic. People, even my own family, will protest and leave the room. “King of the Incels!” or “Z List Jordan Peterson” I am called. I’m always left wondering why I am the subject of such colourful language, for simply making my views consistent and my compassion complete? And so the transformation is complete. The face of compassion, warmth and approval, has become the face of ignorance, coldness and stupidity. It is, in my eyes, the ugly side of equality. The male side; of snails and puppy dog tails, of lazy and obtuse catchphrases and victim blaming mentality. Toxic this, and patriarchy that, and privilege sprinted on top. Yawn. So how has your journey into the ugly side of equality played out? And why do so many progressives forsake their own beliefs, compassion and virtue so quickly? ~ Telegraph Article  Dr Farrell Protest [1] Images by Jene Stephaniuk from Unsplash #genderequality

2022-12-16