The Story
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Your article [Staff Editorial: The Wo(Men)’s Rights Movement, Nov. 2008] was a safe approach, as this is a polemic topic. The very notion that it is polemic is vexing and disconcerting to be sure. I must concede I have gotten less diplomatic in my efforts. [Addressing this issue] is going to require examination of topics we consider contrary to popular assumptions, but the reality is, if we do not, higher education will continue to falter in fulfilling its obligations to society, and ultimately become irrelevant.
Overt misandry on campuses and institutionalized misandry in the K-12 system, as well as in popular culture, is quite extreme. Male students face disparate funding, programming and opportunities. From the male perspective, discrimination against boys and men is real; a feminized curriculum and an anti-male culture are a part of the problem.
The very fact that these issues are forbidden in discussion in higher ed for fear of upsetting a few (primarily women's) advocacy groups and gender feminists, is the core of the problem.
[Women making .77 cents for every dollar a man makes is] an institutionalized myth that most economists recognize is not a result of discrimination, rather career choice and personal choice. It is an example of how the education system is going to have to change to help boys who dismiss education and disengage from this society.
I am pleased you wrote an article on this topic and respect that you did it in such a safe manner.
Arianne Gomez
Class of 2009,
Baruch College
Manhattan, NY
******
Dear Editor,
I recently came across your article [Staff Editorial: The Wo(Men)’s Rights Movement, Nov. 2008] and would like to applaud you for asking the very basic questions that have been asked many times recently, but merely rebuffed as anti-female, and not worthy of consideration, or refuted because the answers to those questions are disliked.
Upon my return to this country four years ago, I was nothing short of mortified at how boys are being treated in the k-12 system, and the failure of higher education to take the gender gap in enrollment seriously. I set out to address this concern and have volunteered during the last four years, working with boys.
It has become painfully obvious that if we are going to address this issue and find resolution, the topics of gender bias, discrimination, misandry and sexism will need to expand their umbrella to include boys and men, and be taken every bit as seriously as women's issues. The disparities in resource allocation, programming and outreach will be a sensible place to start. If a university is going to address the problem, the outcome will not happen overnight but will require commitment for a longer period of time.
Most importantly, there will need to be acceptance of men expressing the male perspective on matters related to gender, even when they conflict and challenge established paradigms. Unfortunately, gender has become nomenclature for women, women's issues and women's perspectives.
Thank you for writing this piece.
Antoine Gadpaille
Whittier School of Law
Whittier, CA
******
Dear Editor,
So now the election is over. Many students registered to vote, and many voted. Excitement everywhere. The vote in Williamsburg went heavily for Obama and I would think William and Mary students were probably the cause. I think it is wonderful that this election energized the electorate.
But what are you going to do now? Can you just forget all that effort, go to the football games, tailgate parties, maybe even study and not do anything political?
I am a “student” here at the Christopher Wren Association, along with many of your grandparents, and we have never seen such interest and fervor for an election. However, you cannot stop your activity now! We grandparents are looking forward to you taking over the management of our country, leading us out of current and future difficult times, and becoming our elected representatives.
You have just finished your internship in the political process. Continue on in whichever party you worked for, get involved in local politics wherever you move after graduation. There are many positions you can take to represent the people, from school boards to city councils, to state senators and representatives.
But please, do not stop being active. Your country needs you. And you have a unique opportunity to apply what you have learned. An informed electorate is our greatest asset.
D.J. Weidman
Attendee
Christopher Wren Association
Williamsburg, VA
The editors at The DoG Street Journal welcome your letters on topics of interest at the College or on articles appearing online or in print. We cannot publish every letter we receive. Nor can we publish letters submitted anonymously. All letters become the property of The DSJ.
We appreciate your feedback and look forward to hearing from you!
Arianne Gomez's letter originally appeared in the print version of the December 2008 issue issue of The DoG Street Journal. The others are published here.