The Sexual Exploitation of Men

From Gareth, we have a little news item which appeared in the Cambridge Evening News:

Just lately there has been a regrettable rise in the number of knobbly-knee contests held at local fetes, galas and even vicarage garden parties. This gross debasement of the male body, using the knees for amusement and titillation of the purient or perverted, treats men as mere objects for others' pleasure.

Defenders of these sad displays say the men who enter knobbly-knees contests do so of their own reasons. This pathetic argument fails to note the social pressures impossed on reluctant men to expose themselves in this way. Driven by the "dare" culture and fear of appearing wimpish, men are coerced into enduring the humiliation of knee nakedness. In the worst cases they do it for drugs - the promise of a pint of Abbot sucks them into a downward spiral in which they become playthings for a gawping public.

This cattle market should be spurned by all politically correct persons.

- by Christopher South, Cambs Evening News, 6/8/04

Be careful what you wish for

Women feeling a bit like men, finally. I take no pleasure in saying that.

Hang on a minute.

"We failed them. The system failed them."

That’s not something you hear a judge say every day and, frankly, it’s refreshing.

Fathers have historically had a raw deal out of divorce and it’s about time that started to change. In fact men in general are settling for a worse deal than women do in my opinion but I guess that is a discussion for another time.

Now, where’s my surfboard. I fancy entering a women’s only surfing competition.

Melanie Phillips joins in.