Do we really need a men's rights movement? | The Tylt

Many men complain it's not just about congressional representation. They say men are getting short shrift in entertainment and point to all-female reboots of popular films and television shows as evidence that the culture has become feminized.

But others say the all-male "The Last Jedi" edit is the men's rights movement in a nutshell: imaginary oppression and made-up rage.

Many men's rights activists say the #MeToo movement is nothing but a witch hunt, and that men are being found guilty of assault and abuse without proof.

 “Me too” unfairly maligns men and perpetuates victimhood in the worst ways. Telling only one side of the story, without proof, and without providing the accused party opportunity to defend themselves is hardly a pathway to progress.

But others say men are not oppressed, and the so-called "men's rights movement" is just misogyny by another name. The data shows men (particularly white men) still dominate nearly every avenue of society, and numerous MRA groups are tacitly preaching violence against women.

MRAs believe the traditionally oppressed groups have somehow seized control and taken away their white male privilege....They believe passionately in their own victimhood and their creed goes something like this: Women are trying to keep us down, usurp all our power, taking away what it means to be a man.

Men's rights activists say the #MeToo movement isn't about exposing predatory male violence towards women in the workplace. It's ruining men's careers by not giving the accused a fair hearing.

Who's getting burned at the stake here? No one's even gone to jail as a result of #MeToo. Some very rich men have lost their jobs. 

As for excessive punishment, there has been no wave of celebrity chefs, Hollywood producers, or even anonymous upper-management types getting hauled off to jail by SWAT teams. The punishment so far has been that these people are getting fired. Every workplace in the country has policies explicitly prohibiting the kinds of harassment and abuse of which these men have been accused, and to which they have admitted. Firing seems like an appropriate punishment for violating these policies. At the very least, it is not an excessive one.