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10 super cool Feminist men
A while back, after the site had covered more than a few negative news items involving attitudes toward women, Pajiba regular Maguita NYC suggested something in a positive vein: a list of feminist men—who use their respective celebrity to support or speak out on behalf of women. With all the ongoing causes and support organizations, you might not realize what it means for men to be passionate about women’s equality; I can tell you that it gives us more courage to speak out for ourselves, it warms our insides, makes us feel stronger and it fills our hearts. So check out these supercool men, and if you know another, give him a shout-out in the comments.
1) Patrick Stewart
After growing up in an abusive household where he witnessed “terrible things,” Stewart realized—even as a young boy—that women under duress had nowhere to go for help. “…there were those who condoned the abuse. I heard police or ambulancemen, standing in our house, say, “She must have provoked him,” or, “Mrs. Stewart, it takes two to make a fight.” They had no idea. The truth is my mother did nothing to deserve the violence she endured. She did not provoke my father, and even if she had, violence is an unacceptable way of dealing with conflict. Violence is a choice a man makes and he alone is responsible for it.” As an adult, Stewart became a patron of the national domestic violence charity, Refuge, which operates a 24-hour emergency helpline, and provides shelter, protection and legal help for women and children victims of domestic violence. He continues to speak out publicly, on behalf of Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women campaign.
2) Mark Ruffalo
As the debate over women’s right to choose rages on and abortion clinics around the country continue to be closed, Mark Ruffalo picked the right time to step forward and make a powerful statement; he sent a letter of support to be read at a rally outside Mississippi’s last remaining clinic. And he didn’t just spew out some generic statement, rather he made it personal, speaking about his own mother’s terrible and dangerous illegal abortion experience. “…I have a mother who was forced to illegally have an abortion in her state where abortion was illegal when she was a very young woman. It cost $600 cash. It was a traumatizing thing for her. It was shameful and sleazy and demeaning. When I heard the story I was aghast by the lowliness of a society that would make a woman do that. I could not understand its lack of humanity; today is no different. What happened to my mother was a relic of an America that was not free nor equal nor very kind. My mother’s illegal abortion marked a time in America that we have worked long and hard to leave behind. It was a time when women were seen as second rate citizens who were not smart enough, nor responsible enough, nor capable enough to make decisions about their lives. It was a time that deserved to be left behind, and leave it behind we did, or so it seemed. We made abortion and a woman’s ability to be her own master a Right. That Right was codified into law. That law was the law of the land for decades. My own mother fought to make herself more than a possession; she lived her life as a mother who chose when she would have children, and a wife who could earn a living if she so chose. I want my daughters to enjoy that same choice. I don’t want to turn back the hands of time to when women shuttled across state lines in the thick of night to resolve an unwanted pregnancy, in a cheap hotel room just south of the state line. Where a transaction of $600 cash becomes the worth of a young woman’s life.” (Full text)
3) Eddie Vedder
Having played the Rock for Choice concert series with Pearl Jam, Vedder has been a consistent supporter of women’s right to choose. In a 1992 op-ed for Spin Magazine, he wrote: “…combat lines are drawn at clinics, and women must be escorted through trenches, which only adds to their trauma. This is not a game. This is not a religious pep rally. This is a woman’s future. Roe vs. Wade was decided 19 years ago and the fact that a well-organized group has come close to overturning it is raw proof that we do live in a democracy. But also the reason that any opposition must be equally as vocal. You go to school in Normal, Illinois? Collegetown, U.S.A.? Shout it out. There are people wary of the strength that young voters possess. Prove them right. Decide on the issues and vote — male or female — for this is not just a women’s issue. It’s human rights. If it were a man’s body and it was his destiny we were deciding there would be no issue. Not in today’s male dominated society.”
4) David Schimmmer
Son of a feminist, who knew? Our old friend is Director of The Rape Treatment Center in Santa Monica. After working with the organization by appearing in television spots aimed at educating men (“The idea is to make guys see that it is OK to flirt, to party … but not OK to be silent, to be passive, to witness a drugging of drink or a rape and not intercede.”), Schwimmer met and was inspired by the woman (Gail Abarbanel) who ran the the Center. “I think [it was] for personal reasons and because I feel like the issue of rape, especially when it’s a crime against a child, just affects me greater than a lot of other issues. For personal reasons, I had a long-term ex girlfriend of mine who had been a victim of child sexual abuse and then also date rape. And I don’t know, I just thought it was an area that I really wanted to get involved with, [to] try to bring more awareness to men about the issue. I’m just proud to be supporting the organization.” Schwimmer also directed 2010’s Trust, inspired by the experiences of some of the victims he’s met during his years working at the Centre. Additionally, he has campaigned for legislation to ban the so-called “date rape drugs,” like Rohypnol and GHB.
Read more at http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/10-supercool-feminist-men-who-stand-up-for-women.php#07FIMWMA31HozT0J.99
1) Patrick Stewart
After growing up in an abusive household where he witnessed “terrible things,” Stewart realized—even as a young boy—that women under duress had nowhere to go for help. “…there were those who condoned the abuse. I heard police or ambulancemen, standing in our house, say, “She must have provoked him,” or, “Mrs. Stewart, it takes two to make a fight.” They had no idea. The truth is my mother did nothing to deserve the violence she endured. She did not provoke my father, and even if she had, violence is an unacceptable way of dealing with conflict. Violence is a choice a man makes and he alone is responsible for it.” As an adult, Stewart became a patron of the national domestic violence charity, Refuge, which operates a 24-hour emergency helpline, and provides shelter, protection and legal help for women and children victims of domestic violence. He continues to speak out publicly, on behalf of Amnesty International’s Stop Violence Against Women campaign.
2) Mark Ruffalo
As the debate over women’s right to choose rages on and abortion clinics around the country continue to be closed, Mark Ruffalo picked the right time to step forward and make a powerful statement; he sent a letter of support to be read at a rally outside Mississippi’s last remaining clinic. And he didn’t just spew out some generic statement, rather he made it personal, speaking about his own mother’s terrible and dangerous illegal abortion experience. “…I have a mother who was forced to illegally have an abortion in her state where abortion was illegal when she was a very young woman. It cost $600 cash. It was a traumatizing thing for her. It was shameful and sleazy and demeaning. When I heard the story I was aghast by the lowliness of a society that would make a woman do that. I could not understand its lack of humanity; today is no different. What happened to my mother was a relic of an America that was not free nor equal nor very kind. My mother’s illegal abortion marked a time in America that we have worked long and hard to leave behind. It was a time when women were seen as second rate citizens who were not smart enough, nor responsible enough, nor capable enough to make decisions about their lives. It was a time that deserved to be left behind, and leave it behind we did, or so it seemed. We made abortion and a woman’s ability to be her own master a Right. That Right was codified into law. That law was the law of the land for decades. My own mother fought to make herself more than a possession; she lived her life as a mother who chose when she would have children, and a wife who could earn a living if she so chose. I want my daughters to enjoy that same choice. I don’t want to turn back the hands of time to when women shuttled across state lines in the thick of night to resolve an unwanted pregnancy, in a cheap hotel room just south of the state line. Where a transaction of $600 cash becomes the worth of a young woman’s life.” (Full text)
3) Eddie Vedder
Having played the Rock for Choice concert series with Pearl Jam, Vedder has been a consistent supporter of women’s right to choose. In a 1992 op-ed for Spin Magazine, he wrote: “…combat lines are drawn at clinics, and women must be escorted through trenches, which only adds to their trauma. This is not a game. This is not a religious pep rally. This is a woman’s future. Roe vs. Wade was decided 19 years ago and the fact that a well-organized group has come close to overturning it is raw proof that we do live in a democracy. But also the reason that any opposition must be equally as vocal. You go to school in Normal, Illinois? Collegetown, U.S.A.? Shout it out. There are people wary of the strength that young voters possess. Prove them right. Decide on the issues and vote — male or female — for this is not just a women’s issue. It’s human rights. If it were a man’s body and it was his destiny we were deciding there would be no issue. Not in today’s male dominated society.”
4) David Schimmmer
Son of a feminist, who knew? Our old friend is Director of The Rape Treatment Center in Santa Monica. After working with the organization by appearing in television spots aimed at educating men (“The idea is to make guys see that it is OK to flirt, to party … but not OK to be silent, to be passive, to witness a drugging of drink or a rape and not intercede.”), Schwimmer met and was inspired by the woman (Gail Abarbanel) who ran the the Center. “I think [it was] for personal reasons and because I feel like the issue of rape, especially when it’s a crime against a child, just affects me greater than a lot of other issues. For personal reasons, I had a long-term ex girlfriend of mine who had been a victim of child sexual abuse and then also date rape. And I don’t know, I just thought it was an area that I really wanted to get involved with, [to] try to bring more awareness to men about the issue. I’m just proud to be supporting the organization.” Schwimmer also directed 2010’s Trust, inspired by the experiences of some of the victims he’s met during his years working at the Centre. Additionally, he has campaigned for legislation to ban the so-called “date rape drugs,” like Rohypnol and GHB.
Read more at http://www.pajiba.com/seriously_random_lists/10-supercool-feminist-men-who-stand-up-for-women.php#07FIMWMA31HozT0J.99
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