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Awareness-Raising Stickers

Filed under: General — Ministry of Men's Affairs @ 12:57 pm Sun 3rd May 2009

I am planning to obtain some stickers to put on anti-male campaign posters etc. The stickers will be round and boldly say something like “THIS IS A MALE-BASHING CAMPAIGN”. For example, the White Ribbon Campaign posters, “Say No to Domestic Violence” posters, Women’s Refuge (break up your family as soon as you feel unhappy) propaganda pamphlets etc.

At the local hospital the other day there were various such posters up, including Women’s Refuge posters showing the Duluth “Power and Control Wheels”, highly discredited anti-male and anti-family propaganda. I also went into a shop recently that sold gifts and novelties and saw that a lot of their fridge magnets etc were highly denigrating of men, their intelligence and abilities, even advocating violence against men by women, in contrast to the ones about women that were all light-hearted and humourously complimentary.

A sticker or two on shops like that (including the Body Shop – see this MENZ post and others ) might also be helpful.

Two questions:
1. Might there be better wording for the stickers that anyone could suggest?
2. Is anyone interested in obtaining some of these stickers? I could order a few thousand and send coils of say 100 to other people. I would appreciate a contribution simply covering the cost of however many were requested, but if anyone unable to contribute wants them I would be happy to send some gratis.

Alternative wording I have considered: THIS IS OFFENSIVE TO MEN; THIS IS AN ANTI-MALE CAMPAIGN; THIS IS A MALE-BASHING ORGANISATION; WHY NOT JUST KILL MEN?; MEN MATTER TOO. Any comments about which of these might be best, or new options?

You can respond here in Comments or email me at [email protected]

46 Comments »

  1. Dear Hans
    I have seen the posters you refer to and often have been offended by them. I would be very happy to support you and contribute to the cost. Offline, let me know your account details by email or address and I will drop you $25 and send me as many as this covers. I prefer the first wording you suggest – “This is offensive to men; this is an anti-male campaign”.
    regards
    Gerry – [email protected]

    Comment by Gerry — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 6:07 pm

  2. Great idea Hans. This one is not new but I haven’t seen it for a long time and it has a message that is sure to do some good – The Best Thing You Can Spend On Your Children Is Your Time.

    Also, – Discrimination Against Fathers: The Only Law You Can Rely On!

    Comment by Larry — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 6:21 pm

  3. I would love a few but have no koha unless WINZ accept a quote from you for payment.
    I don’t fancy my chances.
    I guess it would be inappropriate to stick “THIS IS OFFENSIVE TO MEN” on my ex-wifes’ back?
    Seriously, the amount of anti-male dribble I notice frequently annoys me terribly. I like your sticker idea very much.

    Comment by SicKofNZ — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 6:28 pm

  4. Hi Hans and Gerry.
    I have another idea which won’t involve getting prosecuted for damaging property.
    Simply buy or borrow one of these.
    Lightweight, beautiful vivid full color video with stereo sound.
    Then go into the shop, library, doctor’s waiting room or wherever and very conspicuously start video recording the offensive item/s.
    This will achieve two things.
    First there’s a very good chance someone from the shop, office, department will ask you whta you’re doing. This gives you an excellent chance to explain which may shame them into instantly removing the item from display.
    Secondly you then have a great bit of footage you can easily upload to youtube and link to MENZ and other websites.
    There are more and more videos from Men’s Rights activists going up on You tube all the time.
    Sure the outlay may be significant, but it’ll soon pay itself off AND you get a nice bit of kit to make your own special memories with too.
    How about that?

    Comment by Skeptik — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 6:35 pm

  5. Here’s another

    Help A Feminist To Multitask – Stick A Broom Up Her Arse!

    Comment by Larry — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 6:36 pm

  6. One other thing too Hans and Gerry.
    Youtube these days even has it’s own videos showing step by step how to upload to thier site. It’s a cinch!

    Comment by Skeptik — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 6:40 pm

  7. I’m sorry Larry, I do have a sense of humour, but your comment about the broomstick is inappropriate and will only serve our enemies who monitor this website to broadcast that we are anit-women, which we are not.

    Comment by Gerry — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 7:01 pm

  8. Excuse my typo – above should read anti-women.

    Comment by Gerry — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 7:39 pm

  9. Hey guys! This woman is very much pro-male. I know what it’s like – there are women like me who have lost a daughter through the recovered memory craze. (seven years ago.) So have a kind word for us; we are fellow travellers. The feminists are anti people I think: certainly got into the boardroom, but I doubt their sincerity: take a look at the elderly women living in abject poverty and low self-esteem. No feminists around there. For the stickers, how about “Men have hearts and integrity too.”

    Comment by Sheilah — Sun 3rd May 2009 @ 8:06 pm

  10. Does anyone think maybe making some posters and displaying them is better than vandalising the posters already in circulation?

    Has anyone asked the emergency wards of hospitals if they would take posters for men and violence?

    I think even the doctors surgery would take them in Waitakere.

    Just a thought.

    Comment by julie — Mon 4th May 2009 @ 8:03 pm

  11. Julie,
    you could always ask.
    However judging by the misandric material I’ve seen in some NZ hospital nursing station you could meet considerable resistance.

    Comment by Skeptik — Mon 4th May 2009 @ 10:07 pm

  12. I will try to upload a poster I designed a few years ago.

    Comment by Darryl Ward — Mon 4th May 2009 @ 10:35 pm

  13. Upload successful!

    See here: http://menz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/poster1.pdf

    Comment by Darryl Ward — Mon 4th May 2009 @ 10:42 pm

  14. That’s a very powerful poster. Did it ever get used?

    Comment by julie — Mon 4th May 2009 @ 10:48 pm

  15. It’s a good poster, but somewhat inaccurate. That many children may well have their relationships with their fathers disrupted and reduced but they will not lose their fathers as such. I think the poster would tend to lead to the fathers’ movement being sidelined on the basis of inaccurate and extreme claims. Family law now does seem to place more importance on children maintaining a degree of contact with both parents, as long as the mother gets the most time and maintains her right to be supported by the state and/or the ex’s income.

    Comment by Hans Laven — Tue 5th May 2009 @ 12:39 pm

  16. In my case Hans I have not seen my children in 299 days while I wait for the Family Court to set a date for a parenting order. I feel there is some truth in the poster. In my view if it stirs emotions and reactions then use it. I will.

    I feel father’s movement is already on the sideline in many ways because we are too passive and invisible. While Family Law might place more importance on children maintiaing a degree of contact with both parents, you try actually getting access to Family Law in this country if you are a man, unless of course you are someone applying for a Protection Order. In these cases, the Family Court trips over itself to assist in such applications, whether they are actually warrented or not – hence the huge number of without notice applications on the flimiest of grounds.

    I understand Family Court Judges are now under instructions to be more critical of the need for without notice applications, but this has not stop many family law lawyers still trying it on in order to a three month temporary PO in place to help alienate fathers from their children.

    JOIN THE PROTEST OUTSIDE THE AUCKLAND HIGH COURT ON THURSDAY 07 NOVEMBER 2009

    Comment by Gerry — Tue 5th May 2009 @ 1:13 pm

  17. Yes Julie, it was regularly put up in various places in Wellington over a period of time a few years ago.

    Comment by Darryl Ward — Tue 5th May 2009 @ 11:11 pm

  18. It is not that inaccurate Hans.

    The figures were based on how many children lose ALL contact with their fathers and are derived from family court statistics.

    Every three months, more New Zealand children lose their fathers to our ideologically driven family law system than lost their fathers to the entire Second World War.

    Comment by Darryl Ward — Tue 5th May 2009 @ 11:16 pm

  19. In England the red top tabloid The Sun has a front page article on female ddomestic violence
    ABOUT TIME
    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/real_life/article2411968.ece

    Comment by martin swash — Wed 6th May 2009 @ 12:11 am

  20. Yes, it’s a good thing, and the long prison sentence is unusual for a female offender even when she kills a man. Note her self-righteousness extending even to taking him on a tv show to blame him for her violence. However, the single case-study approach will tend to be dismissed as an aberration. Only a few general figures are given even though a lot of research has shown that physical violence from female against male partners is about equal in frequency and from 25 to 33% as serious in outcome. Also, no mention is made of the fact that there are few services available to male victims, that government funding in most countries is almost exclusively directed to women’s services, that men who call the police take a significant risk of being the ones arrested and convicted for violence at the woman’s word, and that those few female offenders who are put on trial are very likely to be excused one way or the other and to receive trivial sentences.

    Comment by Hans Laven — Wed 6th May 2009 @ 10:00 am

  21. Thanks Darryl. I would be interested in seeing the data your claim is based on. It will be important, for the credibility of the movement, that anyone who makes these claims backs them up with research references.

    I suspect that the case in the past may have approached the kind of figures you cite, but under current legislation I am confident they will be inaccurate. It may be fair to say that thousands of children temporarily lose contact with their fathers due to unjust protection orders that automatically include children, but in most of those cases the father will end up having some kind of regular contact with the children so it would be inaccurate to say the children have lost their fathers. The wording of your poster if changed could make it credible and in my opinion this would strengthen it despite some loss of sensationalism.

    Comment by Hans Laven — Wed 6th May 2009 @ 10:09 am

  22. I have just received the DV statistics for Kapiti Police which show 23% of DV offenders are female by our local gendarmes. However PO orders are 91% in favour of men.
    Unfortunately the Police don’t even see the irony of their own statistics.
    A) it is hard for men to be listed as victioms by Police as it is against their training and the offence has to be deliberate and violent to the extent of injury
    B) even when such violence does occur the FC are extremely reluctant to issue a PO against a woman (especially a mother) and it never occurs in situations where the abuse is psychological alone.

    Comment by Allan Harvey — Wed 6th May 2009 @ 10:20 am

  23. I would be keen to see your data for this statistic as well Darryl.
    It is a very powerful poster.

    Comment by Allan Harvey — Wed 6th May 2009 @ 10:22 am

  24. Hi Hans / Allan

    FARE did the statistical analysis based on FC stats – I will try to dig out the info and send it direct.

    Comment by Darryl Ward — Wed 6th May 2009 @ 10:36 pm

  25. Hi Allan, how did you get the statistics?

    Comment by julie — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 12:08 am

  26. This information is available if you ask. Ring your local station and ask to speak to the officer in charge of DV prevention. I am a member of our local Voices against Violence group and the Police report to this group several times a year.

    Comment by Allan Harvey — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 8:56 am

  27. Letter sent to Ministry of “Justice”(sic)
    Subject: Offensive material displayed in North Shore District Court

    I am objecting to a poster for the “White Ribbon” campaign, displayed in the office of the North Shore Family Court.

    The “White ribbon” campaign has the laudable aim of opposing violence against women, but is not concerned about violence against men, nor violence against children. In addition, men are depicted as the sole perpetrators of domestic violence.

    For these reasons the “White Ribbon” Campaign is at best a factional interest group, and could be seen as promulgating “hate speech”. Allowing such groups to promote their extremist dogma actually exacerbates the problem of domestic violence by excusing the violence suffered by children and their fathers, at the hands of the many violent women, and promoting the removal of fathers from their families.

    You will of course be aware that domestic violence has been shown by all reputable studies committed equally by men and women, and that most violence against children is committed by women. You will of course be aware that violence to children is 50 to 70 TIMES higher in fatherless homes.

    Allowing these offensive posters to be displayed in Family Court offices is distressing and offensive to male victims of domestic violence, and to their children who may have suffered abuse at the hands of a woman. These posters reinforce the perception that the Family Court has an anti-father, and an antifamily bias.

    All Family Courts should be instructed to remove these offensive posters immediately.

    John Brett

    Comment by John Brett — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 7:50 pm

  28. Great job, JohnB.

    White Ribbon encourages violence between men. It asks men to attack other men for women.

    It is no different than the white feather women gave to men to force them to go to war while women stayed safe on homeland.

    Edit: I meant white feather, not white ribbon when referring to war.

    Comment by julie — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 8:03 pm

  29. Yes, good idea. I will do so, when time permits.

    Comment by Hans Laven — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 9:44 pm

  30. Hear hear Gerry. We do need to stand up against violence or threats of violence against both women and men. There is room for humour, and male forms of humour are heavily discriminated against these days as are male forms of nearly everything, but let’s take care with our words.

    Comment by Hans Laven — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 9:49 pm

  31. Good idea Julie. I predict there will be some resistance to hanging up posters that compete with the feminist crusade against men. And those that are displayed will quite likely to be vandalized by feminists. That would be ok though; at least people will learn there are two sides to the story.

    Comment by Hans Laven — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 9:54 pm

  32. That would make a great letter to the editor Julie. It is short and to the point. I would not change a single word.

    Comment by Darryl Ward — Thu 7th May 2009 @ 11:49 pm

  33. After my similar experiences with Kapiti police, it amazes me that there were even 23% “recorded” cases. The men must have been pretty badly injured “woman holding knife and man bleeding” for those lot to have recorded any female against male crimes.

    Comment by martin swash — Fri 8th May 2009 @ 7:29 am

  34. Recently there have been a few recent “female attacks male” violent crimes in England and the woman gets a long jail sentence. But “The Sun” printing this article would indicate that something is changing. It is a paper for influencing the workers. There were many shocked comments, it caused quite a stir.

    Comment by martin swash — Fri 8th May 2009 @ 7:38 am

  35. I ripped down the posters in Waitakere (emergency) hospital. I know that was naughty but even the staff agreed with me things were unfair.

    I was feeling pretty angry after listening to the staff.

    Comment by julie — Fri 8th May 2009 @ 10:46 am

  36. What editor are you talking about Darryl?

    Comment by julie — Fri 8th May 2009 @ 10:49 am

  37. The editor of your favourite newspaper Julie. Maybe Both John’s original and your reply!

    Comment by Alastair — Fri 8th May 2009 @ 5:18 pm

  38. Any editor of any newspaper.

    Just don’t change a word!

    Comment by Darryl Ward — Sun 10th May 2009 @ 2:02 pm

  39. Hans, Julie and others,
    Just look at what a powerful and easily spread message you can put together with a cheap minicam.

    Comment by Skeptik — Sun 10th May 2009 @ 10:21 pm

  40. He is good. (his house is pretty OK, too!)lol

    I am seriously moving on to IMD. That will be enough for me.

    But others (newbies) may have the time and commitment.

    Comment by julie — Mon 11th May 2009 @ 12:21 am

  41. I am out of the country for a few weeks and can’t get the stickers produced until I return. (Tried to rush them through before departing but no dice.) But I don’t think there’s much chance that the misandist posters will be disappearing any time soon…

    Comment by Hans Laven — Tue 12th May 2009 @ 7:47 pm

  42. Hello Hans

    I dislike like these any type of anti jokes, badges etc as well. Problem is it feeds on the ignorant and those who have their own personal axe to grind.

    I work at McLean Chambers. Because I am writing a essay on a Social Issue out of the blue I thought why not see what is out there about Violence against Men. I must admit it has been a eye opener. I made a few phone calls to see what was in Tauranga in regards to getting NZ research material but hit brick walls. The library was somewhat limited (nothing by NZ authors unfortunately) but I managed to get my hands on excellent one about violence by women, which by the way is written by an American Feminist. This site has been very helpful as well. I have seen these acts against men first hand as I was growing up and if anything this study has fuelled my interest even more on this subject. p.s I wish I had to the foresight to contact men counsellors in Tauranga about this issue but too late now.

    Comment by Bev — Sun 31st May 2009 @ 9:33 am

  43. Greetings Bev,
    You should refer to studied carried out at both Otago and Canterbury Universities. These suggest that the initiator of family violence is about 50/50% Male and female. I personally am a victim. I feel certain will give you my email address. I will be pleased to assist.

    Comment by Alastair — Sun 31st May 2009 @ 9:44 am

  44. Bev,
    If you write to me C/- [email protected] I can provide you with many NZ studies. The work of David Ferguson, Ritchie Pulton and Kirsten Robertson are three authors to seek for recent NZ research studies. Internationally the work of Donald Dutton (Rethinking Domestic Violence) and John Hamel and others in the compendeumm Family Interventions in Domestic Violence – A Handbook of Gender-Inclusive Theory and Treatment is worth a read if you wish to write on these topics.

    Comment by Akllan Harvey — Sun 31st May 2009 @ 1:48 pm

  45. Larry,
    What a moronic comment.

    Comment by Allan Harvey — Sun 31st May 2009 @ 1:49 pm

  46. I prefer these jokes –

    Why did the feminist bury her husband 18 feet underground when he died?
    Because she said “deep down he’s a really nice guy” !!!

    AND….

    How many feminists does it take to change a light bulb…..
    13.
    One to change the bulb, and 12 to form a support committee….!!!!

    Comment by Skeptik — Mon 1st June 2009 @ 10:40 am

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