General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Eve Ensler on the passivity of men [View all]FightForMichigan
(232 posts)I know good men who aren't passive.
I volunteer at a rape crisis center. Our volunteers go to hospitals when women and men (and sadly, boys and girls, some as young as 2) need a sexual assault examination. We also provide free counseling to both survivors of sexual assault and their friends and families.
In my town, this program was set up some 20+ years ago by a man who still is the driving force behind the program today. Without his dedication and hard work, the program would probably not have been as enduring and successful as it has been so far.
He is not a passive man.
In our program, I help train new volunteers. Each time we have a training, there is at least one man, but usually more, who want to help. They take 40-hours of truly grueling training - I don't think anyone has ever made it through without breaking down at some point. But they do it because they care, and because they don't want to be one of the many people - men and women - who do nothing.
They are not passive men.
In my work life, I'm privileged to know men who work to pass laws that give greater protections to men and women and boys and girls who are endangered by domestic violence and sexual assault. They're trying to hold more attackers accountable and give the people they abuse more pathways to safety.
They are not passive men.
In my personal life, I know men who do speak out when they see an injustice, whether it's a woman being objectified, marginalized or harmed. If they see a person in danger - man or woman - they would do what they could to step in and help.
These are not passive men.
If you are like the men I've mentioned above, Eve Ensler is not talking about you.
But ...
If you are a man who says nothing when a woman is humiliated, or goes along with sexist or outright women-hating language, who quietly accepts the injustices they see around them, then guess what? Whatever good feelings you have about the equality of men and women really doesn't count for much, because you're doing nothing to change it. Eve Ensler is talking about you.
Now, I'm not saying what kind of man you are or aren't. There's no way I could possibly know. That's for you to decide. What kind of man are you going to be?