Advertisement promotes stereotypes

It's time to pick up your pen (or mouse) and combat yet another false stereotype of men as evil and violent. Please write letters and emails right away, as instructed below, to the Men's Resource Center of Western Massachusetts.

On Monday February 14, the Men's Resource Center of Western Massachusetts ran a Valentine's Day advertisement (see below) which states, "Women are entitled to live their lives free of fear of abuse and violence."

Fair enough, but they go further and promote the myth of "the masculine culture of violence." They forget to mention that women are just as likely as men to commit domestic violence. This group claims to be working to help men. So how does fear- mongering and anti-male propaganda do that?

Contact the Men's Resource Center and tell them the following:

1. Their advertisement is one-sided and misleading because it ignores the fact that women commit domestic violence as often as men - see RADAR Fact Sheet at www.mediaradar.org/media_fact_sheet.php.

2. The problem of domestic violence against women or men cannot be solved by promoting false stereotypes.

3. The advertisement promotes scurrilous stereotypes. Tell the MRC, "Men are entitled to live their lives free of false stereotypes."

4. The Men's Resource Center's website openly admits it wants to "give Valentine's Day a whole new meaning." But Valentine's is a day devoted to romantic love. It should not be turned into an orgy of male-bashing and fear.

5. Any other response you care to make, based on the facts, and polite in tone.

6. Please send a copy back to us so we can see what our members are doing for the movement!

Protest to: Rob Okun, Executive Director of the Men's Resource Center (who has attended F&F events and yet clings to the pernicious stereotypes displayed by this ad).

-- E-mail: raokun@mensresourcecenter.org
-- Telephone: 1-413-253-9887, extension 10
-- Fax: 1-413-253-4801
-- Address: Men's Resource Center, 236 North Pleasant Street, Amherst MA 01002

Please mention you are contacting Mr. Okun in response to a RADAR Alert. (Fathers & Families is sending out this alert in cooperation with the new organization, RADAR, at www.mediaradar.org)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ****

Here's the MRC advertisement - see it for yourself at the following web address: www.mensresourcecenter.org/menofheart2005.html

Men of Heart Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

As men committed to creating a society where women are safe from violence and abuse, we are stepping forward to proclaim this Valentine's Day as Men of Heart Day, a time for men who reject the masculine culture of violence to support creating a masculine culture of peace.

As Men of Heart, both older and younger, as fathers and sons, uncles and brothers, nephews and cousins, coaches and teachers, public officials and private citizens, and as workers and managers, we are coming together with one voice to say, "Enough!" Women are entitled to live their lives free of fear of abuse and violence, free from stalking and harassment. We call on all men to pledge to respect women every day not just on a special day. And we call on men to mentor boys to learn respect for girls and women, and boys and men.

By signing our names below, we are making our personal commitment a public act. We pledge to give women more than flowers and jewelry this Valentine's Day. We pledge to help create an enduring masculine culture of peace.

****************************************

Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting (RADAR) is a coalition of men and women working to assure balance and accuracy in media coverage of the domestic violence issue. More information can be found at: www.mediaradar.org

****************************************

Best Regards,

links: digg this    del.icio.us    technorati    reddit