MRA

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MRA (Men’s Rights Activists)

MRA is a common acronym for Men’s Rights Activist. While the parent topic is the Men’s Rights Movement, the focus of this page acknowledges the identity[1] at the center of a circle of complementary yet differing constructs; the chosen male role, mindset, intention in undertaking MRA beliefs or activities, or self-identifying as MRA as well as the generalized perception of that construct from outside of it, and the reasons for that perception. Related terms and constructs include Men’s Rights; Father’s Rights; Manosphere. MRA’s[2] directly reject feminist assertions of needed female rights and believe that men, and not women, have been systematically oppressed and discriminated against and that feminist wins or gains have in fact been at a direct cost to, or disadvantaged, men, in their creation and existence.[3][4]


Origins

The origins of the Men’s Rights movement reach back as far as 19th century Europe[5] and its development since that time has been complex and somewhat divided between core conservative goals: i.e. pro-family and motherhood, traditional women’s roles; and strong anti-feminist and anti-female backlash[6]. While it must be said that some of the issues and positions pursued by the Men’s Rights Movement have validity, many do not and have been demonstrated as false or illegitimate by researchers, scholars and authorities on hate[7]. At the present time it can be difficult for an outsider to isolate valid arguments[8] within the Men’s Rights Movement and separate them from the sheer volume of outright misogyny and clear anti-feminism[9]. This confusion as well as the obvious hostility against a legitimate movement (feminism) demonstrated routinely by proponents of Men’s Rights has led to a great deal of criticism and skepticism towards – if not the Men’s Rights Movement itself, decidedly towards its’ self-identified proponents – MRAs.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]


Focus/Issues

The focuses or areas of concern to MRA in relation to men’s rights are many. While there is a lack of consistent focus on forward movement toward specific goals, comprehensive, annotated lists of these issues from the MRA perspective can be located[17]. While it is easy to follow the arguments for change related to males in some instances – such as homelessness, military service, circumcision[18] or education – it is impossible to ignore the intensity of MRA focus on issues like ‘female privilege’ (as having been limiting to men in their view), and impossible to reconcile statistics claimed by MRA on issues like rape and domestic violence, with reality[19] or with verifiable statistics[20].

In addition to those listed in the above paragraph, issues regularly identified by the Men’s Rights Movement as requiring change supportive of males are:

  • Adoption, child custody, divorce and post-marital financial support and paternity fraud[21]
  • Education[22], health and healthcare, reproductive rights[23][24]
  • Domestic violence[25], criminal justice, prison[26], government structures
  • Rape – primarily focused not on rape of men, but in objection to language, parametres and assertions of rape and rape culture as those issues pertain to acknowledging and addressing the constructs in support of women and female victims (see ‘Criticisms’ section)


Key Figures in the Men’s Rights Movement

  • Paul Elam[32] – founder of ‘A Voice for Men’. Described on Wikipedia[33] as “the largest and most influential men’s rights website”, ‘A Voice for Men’ is a limited liability, for-profit company owned and published by Paul Elam
  • Warren Farrell[34] – author, activist, PhD, ‘legitimized’ the men’s movement when he crossed over from a focus on feminism to one on men’s rights in the early 1980’s
  • Anne Cools[35] - Canadian Senator since 1984, originally affiliated with the Liberal party, Cools ‘crossed the floor’ in 2004 to become a member of the Conservative Party. Asked to leave that party in 2007 following her criticism of then Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Cools is not affiliated with the Independent Senators Group. Ms. Cools is also controversial for her stated beliefs on domestic violence, which do not align with accepted statistics.
  • Karen Straughan[36] - Canadian ‘vlogger’ Karen Straughan posts to youtube[37] under the name ‘girlwriteswhat’. Proudly anti-feminist, Straughan vlogs her beliefs and has been a spokesperson for MRA interests, including “Men’s Rights Edmonton”
  • Other female advocates[38] - there are currently several prominent female supporters and spokespersons of MRA perspectives, including Erin Pizzey, Helen Smith, Janet Bloomfield and Suzanne Venker, in addition to Cools and Straughan


Criticisms

Chief among criticisms of MRA and their beliefs is the assertion that MRA distorts and manipulates statistics regarding rape and domestic violence[39]. This is followed closely by public skepticism based on the bitter vitriol demonstrated by MRA against women and feminists, which is common to MRA stated opinion[40]. In addition to asserting that rape is more about regretful females than rapist males, MRA perspective has supported abolishing laws against ‘marital rape’ and even making rape legal in certain places or instances[41]. To many critics, MRA appears to lack aligned focus[42] or central agenda and is, in the words of scholar Michael Kimmel – a Sociology professor specializing in gender studies and founder/editor of the academic journal Men and Masculinities –, “…riddled with contradictions” .[43]

More recent criticisms are a result of the politicization of MRA beliefs and growing MRA alignment with constructs such as PUA (Pick up artists) or in response to a notion deeply resented by some men, the ‘friendzone’ or being ‘friend-zoned’[44][45]. Both constructs feature as motivation a strong sense of entitlement to sexual relations with women and an intense frustration and rage against women when their desires to have sexual relations – which they believe they are entitled to simply for being a nice guy – are unmet or ultimately more complex than they anticipated. A recent example of this thought process in action can be seen in the journal writings, video blog postings and actions of Elliot Rogers in California[46] who murdered 6 people and injured 14 others before killing himself in a rage he attributed to hating women who rejected him.

The most recent development in criticisms of MRA thought process is the alignment of many MRA adherents to neo-conservatism through the self-identification of many self-identified MRA adherents and causes to “alt-right”[47] politics and opinions; and to the “manosphere”[48]. This area of MRA thought tends to be where the most graphic and hostile[49] opinions of and objections to… largely women, can be found.


References

  1. ↑ Rekai, Mika. "Men's rights attracts angry young men." Macleans.ca. Rogers Media Inc., 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/angry-young-men/>.
  2. ↑ Castella, Tom De. "Just who are men's rights activists?" BBC News. BBC, 02 May 2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17907534>.
  3. ↑ "Men's rights movement." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 Apr. 2017. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.
  4. ↑ Fell, James. "The Toxic Appeal of the Men's Rights Movement." Time.com. Time Inc., 29 May 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://time.com/134152/the-toxic-appeal-of-the-mens-rights-movement/>.
  5. ↑ "Men's rights movement." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 06 Apr. 2017. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.
  6. ↑ Menzies, Robert. "Virtual Backlash: Representations of Men's "Rights" and Feminist "Wrongs" in Cyberspace." Reaction and Resistance: Feminism, Law and Social Change. Vancouver: UBC Press, 2007. 65-97. Print.
  7. ↑ Potok, Mark, and Evelyn Schlatter. "Men's Rights Movement Spreads False Claims about Women." Southern Poverty Law Center. N.p., 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2012/men%E2%80%99s-rights-movement-spreads-false-claims-about-women>.
  8. ↑ Giese, Rachel. "Of course, men have problems too - but women aren't the enemy." Chatelaine. Rogers Media Inc., 17 Jan. 2017. Web. 04 Apr. 2017. <http://www.chatelaine.com/living/mens-rights/>.
  9. ↑ Blake, Mariah. "Mad Men: Inside the men's rights movement-and the army of misogynists and trolls it spawned." Mother Jones. Steven Katz, Jan. & Feb. 2015. Web. 04 Apr. 2017. <http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/warren-farrell-mens-rights-movement-feminism-misogyny-trolls>.
  10. ↑ Rose, Joel. "For Men's Rights Groups, Feminism Has Come At The Expense Of Men." NPR. NPR, 02 Sept. 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://www.npr.org/2014/09/02/343970601/men-s-rights-movement>.
  11. ↑ West, Lindy. "No, I Will Not Take the Men's Rights Movement Seriously." Jezebel. Jezebel.com, 28 Feb. 2014. Web. 04 Apr. 2017. <http://jezebel.com/no-i-will-not-take-the-mens-rights-movement-seriously-1532799085>.
  12. ↑ Goldwag, Arthur. "Intelligence Report Article Provokes Fury Among Men's Rights Activists." Southern Poverty Law Center. N.p., 15 May 2012. Web. 09 Apr. 2017. <https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2012/05/15/intelligence-report-article-provokes-fury-among-mens-rights-activists>.
  13. ↑ Goldwag, Arthur. "Another Men's Rights Activist Suicide Exploited by Ideologues." Southern Poverty Law Center. N.p., 14 May 2013. Web. 09 Apr. 2017. <https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2013/05/14/another-men%E2%80%99s-rights-activist-suicide-exploited-ideologues>.
  14. ↑ Elam, Paul. "Mary Elizabeth Williams killed Earl Silverman." A Voice for Men. Paul Elam, 01 Aug. 2013. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.
  15. ↑ Williams, Mary Elizabeth. "Feminism didn’t kill men’s rights advocate Earl Silverman." Salon. Salon Media Group, 29 Apr. 2013. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <http://www.salon.com/2013/04/29/feminism_didnt_kill_mens_rights_advocate_earl_silverman/>.
  16. ↑ McLaren, Jesse. "Why 'men's rights' groups are wrong." Socialist.ca. Vancouver International Socialists, 07 Nov. 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <http://www.socialist.ca/node/1449>.
  17. ↑ Angelucci, Marc E. "Men's Rights Issues." National Coalition For Men (NCFM). Francis Baumli, Ph.D., 21 Mar. 2017. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <http://ncfm.org/know-the-issues/mens-rights-issues/>.
  18. ↑ Valeii, Kathi. "How Men's Rights Activists Hijacked the Circumcision Debate." Everyday Feminism. N.p., 23 May 2016. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://everydayfeminism.com/2016/05/mens-rights-circumcision/>.
  19. ↑ Brown, Drew. "Why Libertarians and MRAs Sound the Same When They Talk About Feminism." Vice. Vice Media Inc., 22 May 2015. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/why-libertarians-and-mens-right-activists-sound-the-same-when-they-talk-about-feminism-398>.
  20. ↑ McLAREN, LEAH. "How men's rights groups are distorting the debate about equality." The Globe and Mail. Philip Crawley, 13 Mar. 2015. Web. 5 Apr. 2017. <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/leah-mclaren-are-men-really-the-victims/article23426535/>.
  21. ↑ Craddock, Clayton. "Why I REFUSE to pay child support." A Voice for Men. Paul Elam, 01 Aug. 2013. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.
  22. ↑ Caplan-Bricker, Nora. "Should Title IX Be Used to Protect Students Accused of Sexual Assault?" Slate Magazine. N.p., 15 Mar. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2016/03/paul_nungessers_columbia_title_ix_case_is_part_of_a_larger_legal_theory.html>.
  23. ↑ Lee, Marcus. "Sorry, Men's Rights Activists, You Don't Have Abortion 'Rights'" Rewire. N.p., 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <https://rewire.news/article/2014/03/11/sorry-mens-rights-activists-dont-abortion-rights/>.
  24. ↑ Wadsworth, Gordon. "Male reproductive rights-female non-responsibility." A Voice for Men. Paul Elam, 06 July 2014. Web. 6 Apr. 2017.
  25. ↑ Chandrachud, Neha. "MRA Group Attacks Ontario's Anti-Sexual Violence Campaign with an Idiotic Billboard." Vice. Vice Media Inc., 10 Mar. 2016. Web. 5 Apr. 2017. <https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/mra-group-attacks-ontarios-anti-sexual-violence-campaign-with-an-idiotic-billboard-274>.
  26. ↑ Cohen, Liskula, and Matt Rosza. "The Sentencing Gap: Why are Men More Likely to Go to Prison?." The Good Men Project. Lisa Hickey, 20 Mar. 2015. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <https://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/sentencing-gap-men-likely-go-prison-mrzs/>.
  27. ↑ Patten, Tim. "White female privilege and the domination of men." A Voice for Men. Paul Elam, 15 Dec. 2015. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.
  28. ↑ ballgame. "Female Privilege." Feminist Critics. Blog, 08 June 2008. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <http://www.feministcritics.org/blog/2008/06/08/female-privilege/>.
  29. ↑ Goldwag, Arthur. "Men's Rights Activists Battle 'Misandry' on College Campuses." Southern Poverty Law Center. N.p., 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2013/12/18/men%E2%80%99s-rights-activists-battle-%E2%80%98misandry%E2%80%99-college-campuses>.
  30. ↑ Begley, Sarah. "Misandry: Feminists Pretend to Hate Men and It's Not Funny." Time. Time Inc., 12 Aug. 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. <http://time.com/3101429/misandry-misandrist-feminist-womenagainstfeminism/>.
  31. ↑ Hess, Amanda. "The Rise of the Ironic Man-Hater." Slate Magazine. N.p., 08 Aug. 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. <http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/08/08/ironic_misandry_why_feminists_joke_about_drinking_male_tears_and_banning.html>.
  32. ↑ Serwer, Adam, and Katie J.M. Baker. "How Men's Rights Leader Paul Elam Turned Being A Deadbeat Dad Into A Moneymaking Movement." BuzzFeed.com. Buzzfeed Inc., 05 Feb. 2015. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. <https://www.buzzfeed.com/adamserwer/how-mens-rights-leader-paul-elam-turned-being-a-deadbeat-dad?utm_term=.cj6j5On3k#.ed6D61dW3>.
  33. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Voice_for_Men
  34. ↑ Benfer, Amy. "Save the males!" Salon. Salon Media Group, 06 Feb. 2001. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. <http://www.salon.com/2001/02/06/farrell/>.
  35. ↑ Wente, Margaret. "Anne Cools, Renegade." ANNE COOLS, RENEGADE. The Globe and Mail, 01 Mar. 1997. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <https://www.fact.on.ca/newpaper/gm970301.htm>.
  36. ↑ Divenuta, Lisa. "Anti-Feminist Karen Straughan Does Not Give a Shit." TheFLOUNCE.com. N.p., 02 July 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. <http://theflounce.com/anti-feminist-karen-straughan-give-shit/>.
  37. ↑ Straughan, Karen. "Feminism and the Disposable Male." YouTube. Girlwriteswhat/Karen Straughan, 04 Nov. 2011. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp8tToFv-bA>.
  38. ↑ Blake, Mariah. "The men's rights movement and the women who love it." Mother Jones. Steven Katz, 11 Aug. 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/mens-rights-movement-women-who-love-it>.
  39. ↑ Ghoussoub, Michelle. "Groups pressure BMO Vancouver Marathon to remove men's charity from annual run." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 06 Apr. 2017. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cafe-bmo-marathon-men-s-charity-sexual-violence-assault-1.4057052>.
  40. ↑ Rensin, Emmett. "The internet is full of men who hate feminism. Here's what they're like in person." Vox. Vox Media, 05 Feb. 2015. Web. 04 Apr. 2017. <http://www.vox.com/2015/2/5/7942623/mens-rights-movemen>.
  41. ↑ Brayton, Ed. "MRA Wants to Legalize Rape on Private Property." Dispatches From the Culture Wars. N.p., 19 Feb. 2015. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <http://www.patheos.com/blogs/dispatches/2015/02/19/mra-wants-to-legalize-rape-on-public-property/>.
  42. ↑ Fairyington, Stephanie. "The Lonely Existence of Mel Feit, Men's-Rights Advocate." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 04 Apr. 2017. <https://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/01/the-lonely-existence-of-mel-feit-mens-rights-advocate/267413/>.
  43. ↑ Kimmel, Michael. "From men's liberation to men's rights: angry white men in the US." OpenDemocracy. OpenDemocracy Ltd., 09 June 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2017. <https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/michael-kimmel/from-men%27s-liberation-to-men%E2%80%99s-rights-angry-white-men-in-us>.
  44. ↑ Freeman, Hadley. "Women, beware this PUA army of sleazebags, saddos and weirdos | Hadley Freeman." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 12 Nov. 2014. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/12/pua-pick-up-artists-julien-blanc-dapper-laughs>.
  45. ↑ DiMenna, Hillary. "Gender Block: Why the "Nice Guy" Stereotype is so dangerous." THIS.org. Lisa Whittington-Hill, 27 May 2014. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <https://this.org/2014/05/27/gender-block-why-the-nice-guy-stereotype-is-so-dangerous/>.
  46. ↑ Nagourney, Adam, Michael Cieply, Alan Feuer, and Ian Lovett. "Elliot O. Rodger's Killings in California Followed Years of Withdrawal." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 June 2014. Web. 07 Apr. 2017. <https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/02/us/elliot-rodger-killings-in-california-followed-years-of-withdrawal.html?_r=0>.
  47. ↑ Landsbaum, Claire. "Men's-Rights Activists Are Finding a New Home With the Alt-Right." NYMag.com. New York Media, LLC., 14 Dec. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/12/mens-rights-activists-are-flocking-to-the-alt-right.html>.
  48. ↑ Cohen, Rebecca. "Welcome to the manosphere: A brief guide to the controversial men's rights movement." Mother Jones. Steven Katz, Jan. & Feb. 2015. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/manosphere-mens-rights-movement-terms>.
  49. ↑ Southern Poverty Law Center. "Misogyny: The Sites." Southern Poverty Law Center. N.p., 01 Mar. 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2017. <https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2012/misogyny-sites>.

--HeidemarieJaklin (talk) 14:07, 10 April 2017 (PDT)

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