Men -Gender equality is your issue too.

“Because to date, I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother’s.'' Emma Watson UN Women Goodwill Ambassador , HeForShe UN Convention.

That got me thinking, again about how male rights are being violated everywhere across the globe!

I mean- I can totally relate to the above words for during my period of growth I have needed my dad as much as I have needed my mom. It was not my mom alone who's been entirely responsible for bringing me up and nurturing me. And no, I'm not talking about the monthly remuneration that powers the financial liability I am. 

I'm here talking about those small instances where I have needed my dad to cajole me into smiling and forget about the good spanking I got from my mom. I'm here remembering these times where my dad used to change my diapers- something he didn't even do for my younger brother. I'm here reminiscing about those moments where dad used to fool me into eating that plate of boiled pumpkin by showing me yellow water colours and brushes. I'm here talking about the influence my dad has had in making me grow into the person I am today. He's been an inspiration. He taught me how to use a screwdriver and fix broken doors and cupboards. He's taught me how to kick start a dead engine and change a car tyre. He introduced me to the world of informatics and web designing. He made it a must that I knew how to change a bulb, paint a wall, now the grass and wash the car. My dad has had a far more greater influence on me than my mom. To such a point that I had practically become a tomboy in mind. (I remember the day my dad asked me to carry a lady's bag and I was like ''Woh! You don't do it, so why should I Pp'ne?'')

But most importantly,he taught me about compassionate, gentleness, kindness and sharing. He taught me how to use a mop and a broom. He was the one who initiated me to the kitchen. He taught me the habits of a gentleman. He taught me how we should never put our hands in a lady's purse. He taught me mannerism and codes of social conducts. Although my mom has contributed to this last one especially with her strict outlook on life, it was my dad who's constantly been supportive and omnipresent in my emotional childhood life.

I have needed both my mom and dad during growing up. Then why does society tell me that I need my mom to bring me up? And that she's the natural carer? My dad has always appeared as caring and warm and sweet and forgiving and encouraging to me!

In my case, perhaps that I've needed my dad even more. I've always admired him.

But the rest of the men are not necessarily like my love of a dad most probably because society has not validated this role of theirs- the parenting role. It's starting to gain momentum today but is still not the order of the day you would notice. By not allowing men to be that "motherly'' parent, are we not depriving them from the fundamental right of parenting through judgement, condemnation, pressure and shame?

It is not me to wonder, but you!

Emma Watson: ''Men hold the key to true gender equality. Apparently I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong, too aggressive, isolating, anti-men and unattractive.

In 1997, Hillary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women’s rights. Sadly, many of the things she wanted to change are still a reality today. But what stood out for me the most was that only 30 per cent of her audience were male. How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feels welcome to participate in the conversation?''

Personally I feel startled that men do not feel discriminate. At least most of them don't.

Don't they feel suffocated? (Or perhaps they have been disillusioned in the wave of values..you will understand this by the time you end the article the next post.)

Men can be emotional, they can as well be sensitive. They have a right to be so and not be labelled a cissy! Men can be conscious about their appearance and not be called too feminine or labelled gay. Men have a right to tell a women she's wrong when he thinks so. Men deserve the damsel attitude just as much as women champion chivalry and gentlemenliness. They deserve to be given a chance to bring up their children, to play with them, spend time with them and nurture them. 

They deserve the right to not be a breadwinner and not be ashamed of it! Men have the right to participate in feminist forums, they have the right to limit themselves to the private realm of life. They need to be given a chance to ''prove'' themselves just as much women are having to prove themselves elsewhere!

And whilst some radical feminist do not entirely wish to give men that chance, what's worst is that men self-condemn themselves or society condemns them!

By radical feminists: ''Judging by the backlash, masculinists are having an impact. I know this personally because my Web site Ifeminists.com, which advances equal rights for men, has experienced a dramatic increase in harassment and hate mail from gender feminists in recent months. Every blast centers on men's rights.
The tension will only heighten. Men who claim the right to be an active part of their children's lives will not back down.
On May 24, the Independent Women's Forum (IWF) published an open "Memo to NOW" which spoke of "countless bright young women frustrated by rigid feminist propaganda of male hatred ..."

By Men themselves: ''Men – I’d like to take this opportunity to extend to you a formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too. Because to date, I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued less by society despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother’s. I’ve seen young men suffering from mental illness unable to ask for help for fear it would make them look less “macho” — in fact in the UK suicide is the biggest killer of men aged between 20 and 49. I’ve seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success. Men don’t have the benefits of equality either.''- Emma Watson, UN Ambassador Gender Equality.

By Society: Peers, Media, Schools, Home, Primary socialisation!

They are so many spheres that men are discriminated in!

To list rights that women have that men don't (excluding social customs): 

 It is deemed natural that women gain the automatic custody of their children by mainstream common laymen. It is fair that women assault men with impunity during a fight and had it been a man howling at his female counterpart, move heaven and earth- society's not sparing your life. Because guess what, women have to be eternally right!

Some other arguments I'm less in support of. Women are faced with lighter jail sentences, if any, for the same crime with a lot of chivalry during court procedures. Women are less expectations to succeed. A male breadwinner whether in a single or dual-worker family is still the norm. In many instances, women have the sole reproductive rights (Now THIS one can't be denied) Some women and girls use false pretense of having been sexually assaulted to get men into trouble...(Cont. click here)