Trans-tasman women’s affairs meeting
Lianne Dalziel is meeting her aussie equivalents today in Adelaide to discuss women’s issues. This is an annual meeting. United release below. Government release link on Scoop
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Turner backs blokes
United Future deputy leader Judy Turner says the Government should be
putting as much effort into men’s needs as it does for women’s.
“I question the fairness of having a Ministry that looks only at women’s
issues, without any advocate for men, or that fails to acknowledge gender
issues are inter-related, not isolated from each other,” she said.
“As the Minister of Women’s Affairs meets with her Australian counterparts
to look at issues that affect women today, it is timely to remind the
Government of the thousands of New Zealand men who are affected by issues
that receive neither the concern nor the attention they deserve from
Government.
“I think it’s great that we continue to encourage better outcomes for
women, both here and abroad ? but why do we not do the same for the blokes?
“For example, while women dominate many lower paid carer professions, men
dominate dangerous professions and subsequently have far more accidents and
deaths in the workplace.
“Women are more likely to leave the workforce for a period to take
responsibility for child-rearing, and may therefore ease back in lower paid
part-time work ? a concern looked at by the Ministry.
“But the flip-side is that men often feel that they don’t see enough of
their families and are forced to work longer and longer hours, faced with
the stress of being the sole provider for their families on one income.
“With men suffering disproportionately in areas of suicide, substance
abuse, homelessness, mortality, education, workplace injuries, many health
problems, lack of male teachers and with family court issues, there are
many areas that deserve acknowledgment and attention from the Government.
“My point is that this Government’s ideology and policies, ignore the
concerns of half the population. It’s a good thing to look at how to
improve the lot for women, but we should also be looking at whether we can
improve problem areas for men,” said Mrs Turner.
ENDS
JohnP prefers the address to be off the page. Highlight the words scoop link and press link and insert. I Have to agree looks much better that way.
Comment by Bevan Berg — Fri 22nd September 2006 @ 1:10 pm
thanks, have done (except reverts back when clicking on ‘comments’)?
Comment by UF — Fri 22nd September 2006 @ 1:29 pm
Thanx UF for posting this.
Comment by julie — Fri 22nd September 2006 @ 2:31 pm
It’s a shame no-one from today’s major oposition party – National, appears to ask such questions.
Goodonya Judy Turner.
Comment by Stephen — Fri 22nd September 2006 @ 2:55 pm
Excellent work Judy Turner.
I wonder if Helen will be packing a copy of the Salvation Army’s latest report, the “Forgotten People”, to read on her flight to Australia….LOL.
XSryder
Comment by XSryder — Fri 22nd September 2006 @ 4:42 pm
Lets not forget that United Future is a party of two faces.
Dunne stands by the mess he inherited and refuses to begin the work required to undertake a review of the CSA, having just driven through ammendment(No4).
Judy Turner who is comming accross as very supportive of mens and fathers issues.
Peter needs to start listening to what Judy is saying.
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Fri 22nd September 2006 @ 7:27 pm
XSryder,
Thanx for giving that report. It is important to know what others are doing and what else is happening to men other than in the FC.
Alot of these hostels are old and have nothing of real value to them. I often wonder how men must really feel. But I do see alot of men that have been kick out of their family homes there also, work and have not been to prison or have mental health issues.
It is an important issue. What is it that they say, “Thank God for the Sallies” They have always been there for people.
http://www.salvation army
Comment by julie — Mon 25th September 2006 @ 2:29 pm
Oh, that link doesn’t work.
So I’ll try again.
Forgotton People
Comment by julie — Mon 25th September 2006 @ 2:31 pm
Good work Julie,
These men need our attention and you rightly allude to it here.
As a social worker I worked with some of these kinds of men for a number of years in and around Auckland, so I know what you’re posting is both gutwrenching and real.
It’s a shame Dalziel doesn’t extend her empathy as far as yourself and some others including of course the highly esteemed Major roberts of the Sallies.
Reading Major Robers comments I recall reading a therapist once offering advice to someone who came to them with middle class ‘blues’.
He said next time you see someone homeless (usually a man)look them squarely in the eye.
Resist the temptation to look away.
Drop your guard and move beyond the surface emotion of disgust and see………………………………the hugeness their sadness.
Then keep looking…………….
Welcome to humanity.
Comment by Stephen — Tue 26th September 2006 @ 4:06 am
Stephen,
I do have something to reply to your comment but I think I should not speak it.
It is hard for an ordinary/average female to discuss such things but I do want to say to you that, I have read books because of you and they have made me more weary of you and others like you., Even after the books, I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
How much I wish we didn’t have such boundaries but I HATE, yes HATE this HORRIBLE idea of “a female trojan horse” In fact, I thik it is the most stupid thing in todasy’s society.
Comment by julie — Tue 26th September 2006 @ 8:07 pm
Julie,
I don’t think the idea of female trojan horses is stupid at all.
You and all other women need to get used to the fact that because so many women have burnt so many men in recent times ALL women will be suspected of being feminist trojan horses by switched on men.
This attitude is prevalent amongst many I mix with these days.
It will change when we see women being more empathic and generative towards their menfolk.
For that there’s nothing nz men can do except have the nouse to complain about societal and institutionalise misandry and withdraw their energy as much as possible from women. Beyond that the ball’s unequivocably in your (women’s) court IMO.
Comment by Stephen — Wed 27th September 2006 @ 1:06 am
Stephen,
Yes, I do agree that many women have and still do burn men (big time)The stories in books are unbelievable. But because they are real, I am speechless.
I think I just have to get over this “femenine trojan horse” thing. In fact I am questioning myself as to why I am so ‘caring’ of it and am realising I have to understand it.
There has to be both sides working together here and I want to say that I am just as “caring” as the femenists calling women ‘traitors’ as well. So it is not just masculinists I am upset with.
I want to challenge this by saying that if men who are not agreeing with you are effeminists and women that femisnists don’t agree with are traitors then how can we expect people to want to change things.
You can’t expect people whether female of male to use their own free time and give emotionally to a cause that has the chance of abusing them.
Comment by julie — Thu 28th September 2006 @ 9:24 am
I hope you don’t see this as a ‘cop out’. For it is just “looking at the glass from a different angle” (so to speak.
Another thing I learn’t from a book is that “men are also responsible for what has happened as they allowed it to happen by sitting back and saying, “Yes”
If men don’t learn to stand up and say “No” in fear of rejection or what us female’s wrath can dish out, then even if we make changes we will end up back to this day in the future.
The equality has to come from men speaking up and women listening. That is how women got thier power. IMO
Comment by julie — Thu 28th September 2006 @ 9:32 am
Julie,
Perhaps women should set up a self help organisation for recovering feminists – something like feminists anonymous.
Comment by Stephen — Thu 28th September 2006 @ 1:57 pm
Stephen,
That is a good idea but I am not the female for such a group and I don’t know who is or even who to invite.
I am going to come back to this 2 moro, so I hope you will also come back.
Comment by julie — Thu 28th September 2006 @ 3:34 pm
Hi again Stephen,
I know you and I have a difference of opinion on the matter of femenism and anti-femenism and feminism recovery but I want you to know that although you have had a hard time in NZ getting these “femenists” to see the “masculinist” side, you both forgot one thing.
You all (both sides) aged and while you were aging others were also aging.
You both forgot to pass your “fight and plight” onto the younger generation and for that both sides have lost.
And you forgot to force your soldiers to see things your way. Another boo, boo.
What you also forgot is that experience is being proven to be just as valuable and sometimes more than the paper. (degree or what not)
Today people get both, one way or the other. All the PC in the world and all the bitterness is not going to stop the love and the good in people.
It is time for the people to connect and make all the sexism obselete, once and for all.
I guess the people coming up today have to learn from our mistakes which means we have to teach them and that is how we pass on things.
The men’s movement is a hard one for any group to connect to. The only thing I see me or others I know is what JohnP and Felicity and others like them know and have done. But this time we get their strengths and weaknesses shown to us so that we do better this time and if we don’t get it now we will do better the next time.
Comment by julie — Fri 29th September 2006 @ 12:12 pm
Julie,
it’s hard to make sense of your last posting.
Something about ‘fight or plight’.
I know of the psychological concept of flight or fight. Perhaps that’s what you meant. Even so I’m not sure what you’re trying to say here.
Comment by Stephen — Fri 29th September 2006 @ 2:05 pm
Stephen,
Yes, I can see your point about my comment being hard to understand.
I’ll try again. To explain it I’ll share a recent experience.
I reapplied for some funding for our group just recently and I had been expecting to get half of what we got last year because there were more groups applying this year than last.
I had sent in the article our group was involved in for Child Support and spoke of my concerns (took a chance) that could have backfired but instead we were given more money this year than last.
I take that to say that groups do care and that others are disgusted at the way women are getting so much and men are being treated.
I think that society is hurting not having funding for men and I think most groups are in favor of addressing it and I think people will speak up if given the chance, encouragement and support.
Not only that but the research we have been asked to contribute to is all about father’s and their children and from what I see here is students lapping up yours and others information and comments. Things are moving slowly to balance out.
But not fast enough to save the sufferers of today.
I think (I trust you’ll correct me if I’m wrong) it is the unfairness you hate and the suffering your brothers and yourself have in the past and are presently experiencing more than femenists. By femenists I presume the women that deliberately go out of their way to be take, take, take with out considering the consequenses. In fact I bet they have known the consequenses all along but only care for themselves.
Unfortunately I can only find women that are fighting for women’s rights without considering the consequenses and presume that someone else cares of the other side or that someone will say “NO” to them if they are wrong.
These women are victims of another type yet we should not pardon them for being naive and yet Governments give in to get the votes. They are also guilty.
It seems the feminist movement at the beginning was for the better but some took it to the extreme and by some of your posts from other sites I can see they still exist taking it to the extreme. However many women are in favor of feminism to the extent of fairness.
I do see a light at the end of the tunnel and from having a positive consequense to our application I think that we are moving on as a country yet there needs to be work put in motion.
On another note the only people I know that are PC are those trying to get promotions. All the rest are just going along with the government’s decisions because no major protesting through education is occuring. People know these people and basically stay out of their way in fear of getting into trouble.
And on yet another note I believe bitterness only creates negative. Whether in women’s groups of men’s groups many people stay away for the bitter people.
Comment by julie — Sat 30th September 2006 @ 4:16 pm