Political parties needs Spokesmen for Men’s Rights
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE LIVES OF BOYS, MEN AND FATHERS.
OSLO, NORWAY 19.11.2019
Danish politician Simon Simonsen poses the long overdue question if political parties needs
spokesmen for men’s affairs? Just as political parties today have official spokeswomen for gender equality women issues.
Simon Simonsen is a Social Democrat and member of the Copenhagen City Council. His is
candidate of philosophy and holds a Ph.d. in Men’s Health and a Master of Public Governance.
He is also chairman of the recently formed Danish Mens’s Council, a group working to politically
speak truth to power on behalf of men and boys, as well as to build support and assist existing
organisations supporting men, boys and fathers increasing their political voice and standing together
to effect political change in Denmark. One concern is to politically support reputable Danish mens
and fathers organisations so they can start gain funding and support accordingly to their great work.
Today they are greatly underfunded.
Proud of our boys, men, fathers, brothers and husbands
The widespread perception of men having inordinate social and economic power is false, and it
legitimises a destructive and unjust war on males. We need to create and enforce positive
perspectives about men. Perspectives boys and girls can look up to.
Boys and men are cool, funny, industrious and forceful. We take pride in our men, brothers, fathers
and boys. Boys will become Men. They will love and care for their families and friends. They will
care and provide safety and work hard and they traditionally share with their family. Boys
historically take great pride in their fathers. Men were the first on Mount Everst. Men invented
physics & philosophy. Men build the roads, factories and homes for families all over the world. Men
secure our lives in society with their own lives as firemen, soldiers and so on. Men were the first (and
only) to walk the moon. Men build the biggest companies in the world. When it comes to
achivements like that, it is all men. Boys and men have all the reasons in the world to be proud.
And when boys look at men, they see someone who share. Men achieved the world records in
sports. But they also take great pride in protecting and making space for women. In sports where
men are the stronger sex, we have made genderseparation so women can have their own world
records.
Boys see men share. Men are historically good at working in the public sphere, some become Heads
of State and Government Ministers. But boys see men share that power with women. The inclusion
of woman into political institutions was decided by men sharing with women.
The traditional notion of male is not dying. Not at all. It’s just changing. Still traditional. It has
always changed as circumstances changed. Men make new traditions. Universally, men still want to
provide and protect for their children, wife, family and country. And they often sacrifice themselves
eagerly for women and children which they understand as very valuable, and perceive themselves as
essentially disposable to protect them and other higher goals.
Boys and men have all the reasons in the world to be proud.
Politics for men starts with a positive view on boys and men.
Political Parties need Spokesmen for Mens affairs such as (more issues exist):
1. We need to solve the tragedy of fatherless childen
In a sound environment, men and women recognise the value of different contributions to the
development of their child. In some developed countries 50% of marriages end in divorce. Rates of
single parent families are higher than ever before.
Normally parenting involves two people raising children together, but nowadays,
children in developed countries often grow up in fatherless homes.
Children’s lose their father in child custody cases, because sadly society increasingly
allows children to be raised with minimal or no father involvement. At the same time many interest
organisations criticise family law, highlighting that there are few or inadequate provisions for
ensuring that girls and boys spend the necessary time with their fathers.
2. We need to help the fatherless boys
A significant proportion of boys are being raised in fatherless homes, with grave consequences for
the boys as well as for all of society. Boys are falling behind without dads. Many do not graduate
from school. Statistics indicate that boys raised in fatherless families are significantly more likely to
experience higher rates of running away, incarceration, substance abuse, and suicide.
3. We need schools to be more boy-friendly
Boys are falling behind girls in the schools in the developed countries in the West. Traditional
boyhood pursuits have been curtailed in schools, with a significant decline in activities such as
physical education, sports, woodwork, metalwork and break-times. This prevents boys from letting
off steam and expanding natural energy, leading to inattentive boys in the classroom. The typical
school drop out is: a boy.
4. Understanding and talking with pride about men, sons, fathers, brothers and husbands
We should give men credit, instead of painting masculinity as poison. Sons, fathers, brothers and
husbands should not feel that their masculinity is socalled toxic. They should not listen to noninclusive
speech such as: “the future is female” and feel that men are excluded. Boys should not hear
that their dads are bumbling fools or deadbeats.
The widespread perception of men having inordinate social and economic power is false, and it
fuels a destructive and unhappy war against men and boys.
We need to enforce positive perspectives about men. And allow it to be incorporated into media
output and what is taught at universities – especially into gender studies curriculum. Gender studies
and journalism in universities and the media often rarely incorporates the masculine gender except
to demonize it.
5. We need men to take traditionel male choices
Men still work in higher-risk jobs as soldiers, firefighters, miners, and so on. Almost all of the most
hazardous professions are all-male. 40 years of free choice haven’t changed that. Actually in the
Nordic countries workchoices are more gendered than ever before. More free choice results in more
gendertraditionel choices. And in segments within professions we have higher percentages of men as
their level of hazard increases. E.g. the very few men that work as nurses works with the emergency
area.
Men and women share many characteristics, but men are also biologically and culturally different
from women in many areas. And that will not change in the future. Men and women are different –
and at the same time share a lot of qualities. Obviously, there are variations. Some men work with
childcare. Some women are masons. But they are – and will remain – minorities. The big picture is
clear: men will be men. And we need men to take traditionel male choices because the work they do
is important for our society.
6. We need to improve the health of our sons, fathers, brothers and husbands
Men’s life expectancy is in trouble. Boys and men are dying earlier from all the leading causes of
death. Men are victims of violent crime significantly more than women and are more likely to be
murder victims. Suicide rates are much higher for men than for women. While the death rates for
breast cancer and prostate cancer are comparable, we spend lot more money on breast cancer.
Therefor we need to improve the health of our sons, fathers, brothers and husbands.
Simon Simonsen
City Hall
City of Copenhagen
1599 Copenhagen V
Denmark
