A concern of mine for the last few years has been the state of men in this county. This is a topic that I can never address because a lot of women seem to think I'm saying that life for them is all good. On the other side dudes never support me because they don't even recognize what I am saying. Some small examples would be: In a public forum I say women are smarter than men and I am applauded. In the same forum I say men are smarter than women and I'm a chauvinist. Then I consider things like the term metrosexual. My concern is if I'm not a metrosexual than am I a Neanderthal? The problem is the lack of respect towards women is accepted as a general male issue when it's not. My favorite reply to this is the same people who defined social positions for woman have their boots on the necks of poor men. It is an undeniable fact that women have been shat upon through out history, the problem is attempts to correct his cannot be handled by politicians passing laws. A law does not equate to respect amongst society which has been the real issue. I think we have skewed things so that non-wealthy men suffer while women still don't really benefit from them. There are reasons why football and porno are two of the biggest industries in America right now. As a whole men are considered not to have any culture. The biggest effect of this is seen in society. For instance there are several all female colleges while those for men are considered to have no purpose. In the work world women are begining to make more money and get better jobs...now men are competing with women for jobs. It doesn't seem like a problem until we consider that these same men can't get women without a job. Really the job things is nil cause everyone is competing with everyone. There's educated people of every race and gender having trouble finding work. The problem with women in the workforce is they are given jobs as an answer to feminist ideals but aren't respected anymore (hence sexual harrassment and the Wal-mart thing). It's like if a lady says "you really hurt my feelings." and my response is "Here's a cookie. See it's sweet." Physical things can't replace thoughts and feelings. Some of the most glaring examples are situations like this: I recommend every man at one time in his life take an opportunity to turn down sex. The reaction is crazy. You find yourself hit with accusations of homosexuality, impotence and all types of things. I said this to a women once and she asked what the situation was, if the girl was partially nude or what. My response was it shouldn't matter. This nation has taught me that if I'm in the middle of an orgy and women says no, I have to stop or it's rape. I respect that (although there could be a better time to say this isn't what you want) and it bothers my that I couldn't get the same respect. In a society where men are considered to be dogs, I shouldn't be disrespected when I don't follow through on that stereo-type. There also should not be questions of what the circumstance was if no means no. Speaking of sex, reproduction is the biggest of all these issues. To sum it up: For the first time in the entire span of human existance one gender controls the means of reproduction. Women choose whether or not to have a child, whether or not to keep it and whether or not the man will be involved (as in allowed to be physically present). The only choice a man has is if he will take the time he can get and if he'll bear the financial responsibility. Most men in this country do not know the love of a family, some by their own actions, some by the actions of others. The biggest issue is what does this cause? The financial thing is another issue. Let's say a man and woman have a child. The man looks out and provides even though they are not together and the woman is satisified with what he is doing. Now for whatever reason she is not working and needs more assistance. If she goes to Social Services for help she is required to turn him in to Child Support who in turn determines an amount for him to pay bi-weekly. The mother doesn't even get a say. Furthermore these agencies (in Baltimore at least) are run by private companies that receive a percentage. In terms of personal knowledge I used to work at C.S. and 90% of the people who work there are women who are in the system so there aren't alot of fair shakes. What's worse is I've heard women working there say things like, " I'll tell my son don't claim no babies." Keep the cycle going, huh? In addition most people don't realize that the system does this so they can hold the man accountable for funds spent in other Social Services programs that a woman may go through. Understand, I don't blame women, individually or collectively. I think that women deserve more than what they have gotten. I don't like the way government has tried to delegate things to satisfy them. It's like affirmitive action...most people don't realize that the biggest beneficiaries have been middle-class white women. What I don't like on the part of women are some of the hopelessly negative attitudes towards men. These, however, are just like negative attitudes towards a race or particular group of people. The difference is the sheer numbers involved with a negative attitude towards a gender. I don't like the way a lot of men are either. I for one don't know my father, I've spoken to him - tried to establish something - he's just a jerk. On the whole however I think women can solve a many of these issues. I see plenty of women with crutty ass dudes and it burns me up. I feel like men who don't act like responsible men shouldn't even be allowed access to a woman. Only women control that. My only recourse is to be the change I want and to speak on it. My problem is I'm more than just manual labor, a dick and some money. Right now that appears to be all the world and the law sees in me or is willing to acknowledge.
