M en’s rights activists around campus have been distributing fliers filled with statistics on male victims of domestic violence. In theory, groups raising awareness about ways in which men experience interpersonal violence is a good idea.
But many of these groups, including A Voice for Men and the National Coalition for Men Carolinas, talk about gender in a way that harms everyone. Men’s rights groups foster violent ideology and use male survivors as objects of propaganda instead of respecting them and offering them resources.
On Oct. 14, feminist media critic Anita Sarkeesian canceled a speech at Utah State University after threats of a mass shooting. “Feminists have ruined my life,” wrote the poster of the anonymous threat, “and I will have my revenge, for my sake and the sake of all others they’ve wronged.”
The National Coalition for Men Carolinas might not be threatening violence, but like the author of the threats to Sarkeesian, they have a clear animosity toward feminists and anyone who advocates for an end to gender-based violence. Their site accuses UNC of “misandry” and characterizes efforts to end interpersonal violence as a “war on all college male students.” This kind of language doesn’t address any of the very real ways in which men are hurt by patriarchy. It just demonstrates hatred of women.
NCMC is a fringe group with little active support on campus, but its presence still matters because of its main focus of targeting women who come forward about assault.
