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Male Role Conditioning Exploits the Lives of All American Men

Male disposability is on display on the walls of Valley College’s Behavioral Sciences building.

Published: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Updated: Friday, December 4, 2009 12:12

gender roles

Leonardo Alannis | Valley Star

Names of the dead from the War on Terror are displayed on the hallway walls of Valley College’s Behavioral Sciences building, but those names are just the tip of an iceberg that shows the role of men as the disposable sex in American society.

As of Nov. 4, 2009, there have been 5,268 soldier deaths in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and 5,165 of those deaths have been men, according to icasualties.org. More than 98 percent of the war dead are men. By law, women are exempt from front line combat, even though front lines are vague and women have found themselves in deadly situations more than in any other American war. Historically, men are approximately 99.999% of American deaths and casualties, according to U.S. Department of Defense Records. Women are not even required to register for selective service when turning 18, as men are, and men face numerous harsh penalties if they fail to register, according to the Selective Service System.

Every human life is precious, but it appears female human lives are more precious. Given statistic after statistic that points to men’s lives as being expendable at a far higher percentage than women’s, and programs and services far less available to meet men’s needs than women’s, it is obvious men’s lives are not considered of equal value to women’s. American laws and lawmakers are not protecting men’s lives as equally as women’s.

Of the 15 leading causes of death in America, men lead in 12 categories, are tied in two, and women lead in only one, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Yet there is an Office of Women’s Health at the federal level, at the California state level, and at the local Los Angeles county level. None for men exist anywhere in the United States, but other Offices of Women’s Health exist in numerous regions throughout the U.S.

Men are approximately: 94 percent of industrial accidents and deaths, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Men are approximately 80 percent of suicides, according to the Center for Disease Control. Men are approximately 76 percent of homicides, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Men are approximately 93 percent of the prison population, according to “The Sentencing Project.” Men are also a significant percentage of domestic violence victims, according to the DOJ and CDC.

It’s high time that the status of men and men’s health, which contributes to their disposability is accurately and equitably addressed at all levels of government, including college level liberal arts curriculum and men’s studies programs. To do otherwise, smacks of a misandrist disingenuousness that clearly reinforces the role of all males as second-class citizens under the tyranny of a government that does not equally protect, or value, their lives.

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John Riebesehl
Fri Dec 11 2009 14:52
It is interesting that so much is written negatively about the authors topic. Statistics don't lie. They are verifiable. It is depressing, however, to read the emotionally charged diatribes that offer no statistical challenges to the author's assertions.
JFR
Steven DeLuca
Thu Dec 10 2009 22:29
After decades of male bashing it doesn't surprise me that men who know little about geneder other than what feminist have taught them attack men who have studied mens and women's issues. A feminist and female friend of mine who has taught women's history at the college level had written often about men who attack other men while pretending to protect women from stupid men who "just don't get it" about gender. . She says "I don't need you to protect me" so get off your white horse and stop kissing women's asses... and she calls such men "Philosophically castrated by the victim feminist movement"

She was an angry women who was pissed off at men for a long time because she took what feminist women said as truth and ran with it. Being a good woman who loved men and women she decided to go to the sources of feminist claims about men regarding abuse and other issues and time after time she found lies and myths
Men are either pigs or they are not but those who have made up their minds years ago that men are pigs are not worth talking too because they feel too needed by feminist women to trust their brothers.. Too often the source for feminist men and women where men end up as devils and women as angles is simply a feminist quoting a feminist quoting a man hating lesbian in New Jersey.

I worked with teens in treatment facilities as well as with prisoners and in police work time after time I found it just as likely that the source of the problems of either gender could as easily be a violent and abusive mom, or dad. Hidding such facts as how mothers are more likely to injure or kill a child while the victim is most often male is typical of too many feminists. Pitting men against women or women against men isn't going to help fix problems that are not about gender but are about the difficulties humans have simply making it.

PS what kind of guy calls himself "real man" while attacking real men anyway. I bet he isn't. He thinks being a man is what, bringing flowers to a date, paying for the meal, staying on the Titanic while old ladies live... cool. Tell him to check out where our country is in 40 years with fewer and fewer men graduating from college and more and more men in prison.

Go Ray -

SH
Wed Dec 9 2009 12:48
A Real Man said "However, more civilians are killed than anyone has ever tried to keep track of and most of those people are innocent women and children."

Since we're all so stupid, would it be possible for you to back up this assertion with some facts? I searched "war casualties gender" and near the top of the page were records for the civilian casualties in Iraq for 2003. Of the 2066 civilian deaths, 1573 were males. That's about 76% of the total, and does not support your assertion that "most of these people are innocent women and children". It supports the diametrically opposite conclusion that most civilian war casualties are men. (Why does "A Real Man", who I think writes like a typical feminist, use the phrase "women and children"? Does A Real Man equate women with children. Perhaps he is afraid of strong, independent women? How does he know all of the civilian women killed in war are innocent? Innocent of what? Is he implying that the civilian men who were killed were guilty of something?)

StopTheInhumanity
Wed Dec 9 2009 03:41
Various military branches under the Department of Defense have their records kept in the National Archives. All the data is there and elsewhere on the Net as I pointed out, but all of it is originally collected by the Department of Defense. The numbers quoted in the article are accurate and verifiable.

The article dealt with the way America treats its male citizens as disposable. Other than those American women and children killed on 9/11, and some killed in the Civil War, and a tiny fraction actually killed in wars, it is men who are the vast numbers killed in wars. Checking the voting records in congress as to men and women who voted for military action after 9/11 shows female congresswomen, voting both for the war in Afghanistan and a lesser number voting for the war in Iraq.

Here are some women elected representatives form CA I recognized, who voted "YES," for Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists, House Joint Resolution 64, Senate Joint Resolution 23, Sept. 14, 2001, Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Diane Watson, Lucille Roybal-Allard, so it is clearly wrong to say, or infer, that only men start wars.

StopTheInhumanity
Wed Dec 9 2009 01:00
"Your name" alleges to have insider information about posters he could only have if he were a member of the Valley Star staff. That's interesting. Neither he, or "A Real Man," offer any credible refutations, just vile insults and vulgar taunts characteristic of something hurled by a subliterate mind. Their virtually insentient verbal displays so thoroughly discredit their replies that no further comment is necessary. Such deficient displays of mental functions are not worthy of further comment, IMO.
Paul Elam
Wed Dec 9 2009 01:00
A brief, but very well crafted article that gives the statistical side of male disposability. And consequently the hatred and bigotry that blazes though the comment sections demonstrates the mindless social pressures to maintain men as cannon fodder, exempting women from such hardships while supposedly embracing equality, and excoriate anyone who points to the glaring hypocrisy in all of it.

Kudos for a great effort, sir, and never let them shut you up.

Paul Elam
Editor-in-Chief
Men's News Daily

Your name
Tue Dec 8 2009 19:45
Utter BS. The opinions here show me how very little exposure to the real world most of you have. Then again, you are all posting on a Community College website so what should one expect.

I think it's hilarious the original author is quite obviously posting replies on his OWN article under different aliases. Bravo. He also posted under the opposing one. Oh and please look up the terms you're quoting. You really have no idea what you're talking about

A Real Man
Tue Dec 8 2009 19:36
This article is ridiculous. I could go through and refute any and all claims but I'll only go as far as the first "fact." that being the men are 98% of people killed in war. Sure, lots of men die in wars, which are started by men. However, more civilians are killed than anyone has ever tried to keep track of and most of those people are innocent women and children. As for the 99.999% line, please show me where on any DoD website where you can find these records, which is assumingly where this "journalist" got his information.

This article is full of hate and lies and wreaks of a man who has been spurned by a woman or women, whether his mommy didn't love him or if he can't keep a relationship. Whatever this guys deal is he needs to grow up, as do all the other machismo deficient apes commenting here. Be men and quit whining like the bunch of wussy losers you are.

Shatteredmen
Tue Dec 8 2009 05:04
"One of their biggest comments is that if men don't say anything, then men can't complain if things aren't right. But, then when men like Ray DO say anything the same hateful women are there to claim that we're liars and worse."

Barry as I am sure you know, one of the things they say most about men who are truly working for equal rights is that they hate women. We have seen solid proof of that right here in these comments when I stated that anytime men try to do something about this injustice, we are accused of hating women. Then in the very next reply, "a woman" accused me of hating women. Often this accusation, just like the many false accusations of abuse leveled upon men is a death sentence for their careers. Male professors have been terminated when feminist accused them of “misogyny”. Even the fact that misogyny is listed in the dictionary while misandry is not shows us much.

Is it not misandry to have laws that protect only women while the law penalizes men?

menareangrynow
Tue Dec 8 2009 03:23
This is a great article, counting many of the injustices men endure, in our culture's war on males. I applaud the its author.
Barry Jernigan
Mon Dec 7 2009 22:32
First of all let me commend Ray for the excellent article and commend him for his bravery. In a 'ladies first' world it is rare to find men willing to deal with the obvious hatred some women have for men and those who obviously have no problem showing that obvious hatred in blogs like this. Secondly I am so sick and tired of listening to the two-faced feminists. They change their mind when it suits them constantly. One of their biggest comments is that if men don't say anything, then men can't complain if things aren't right. But, then when men like Ray DO say anything the same hateful women are there to claim that we're liars and worse. One of the biggest scams online right now is feminists trying to claim (with no proof whatsoever -- typical for feminists actually) that ALL (that's right ALL) of the leaders of the men's rights and father's rights movement are child molesters. I frankly think this proves that the feminists are nothing but a bunch of liars and quite frankly just a bunch of fruitcakes. And apparently they're not very intelligent either. They should read true history because they would know that every single group which oppressed another group falls from power eventually. And from where I'm sitting the feminists who block justice for male victims of dv are our oppressors. The feminists who block justice for paternity fraud victims are our oppressors. The feminists who claim women have a right to file charges against men with no proof (often false charges) are our oppressors. And history repeats itself and you ladies should learn that by now. And you are making a lot of enemies. You even feel bold enough to attack war heroes returning from Iraq. Just remember -- the guys you're kicking on your way up will be the same ones who will pay you back when your power structure (based primarily on a currently strong economy and remember economies are cyclical and uncontrollable) crumbles. So, don't worry, baby. Every dog has her day and you'll get yours. Oh, god! I can't wait to see that happen. lol
StopTheInhumanity
Mon Dec 7 2009 22:10
"obviously those responding have not read the whole of the article. I'd like to know what stat office ever, EVER would publish a stat of 99.9999999% No reputable one. Those of you, MEN of course, defending this, show your ignorance in these comments."

The exact quote is, "Historically, men are approximately 99.999% of American deaths and casualties, according to U.S. Department of Defense Records." Apparently you are ignorant of how to quote a statement? Do you even know how to calculate percentages from raw data? Are "stat offices" the only place you are able to get your information? Your pathetic ignorance is glaring. The stats are all readily available online. Do your homework.

Blue
Mon Dec 7 2009 21:12
"MEN are the one who have made the rules so look to your own kind if you don't like it. "

In American, women are clearly the majority of the electorate and have had the ability to elect anyone to office they choose for a long time, or don't you believe women can choose who to vote for? Oh, by the way, approximately 42% of the men killed in Vietnam form California died for their country without the right to vote. It appears that number extrapolates out for all Vietnam deaths of men.

Oh, by the way, when women were protesting in front of Wislon's White House for the right to vote, tens of thousands of young American men were being blown apart and otherwise slaughtered in Europe - WITHOUT THE RIGHT TO VOTE - but we never hear about that now do we?
======================
We see clearly the changes in politics when Democrats and Republicans swap leadership roles. Although the minority party still has some power and can raise a lot of ruckus, it is the agenda of the party in power that tends to run rough shod.

Now then, let's consider a permanent political underclass that's never in power these days - disposable, American, male citizens. Even though most politicians are male, they are only in power as servants to female politics. That's because the majority of the electorate that votes men into office are female. Consequently, even though most politicians are male, it is the power of the female vote that they serve. It is the female agenda that is always in power, election after election after election. Given that men are largely perceived in powerful political circles as privileged and not oppressed, men will need to continue speaking up (squeaky wheel) for some time for men's needs to even be recognized as existing. The powers arrayed against men are immense and entrenched: women's studies, women's commissions, offices of women's health, office of violence against women, etc., and they all speak so loudly about their issues that almost no voice of men is heard talking about their issues.

The only reason we have an inkling of a voice at present is because "male oppressions" have been steadily rising for the past decade and more. It is a really sad commentary on America to see that male oppressions, sufferings, and deaths must get so extremely disproportionate, compared to females, before any man's voice is even heard - but still not significantly acknowledged.

Marc A.
Mon Dec 7 2009 20:00
"You really think that men have it worse than women?"

What we have said is that men have at least as much a claim of historical institutionalized discrimination as women do, just in different ways. When you look at gender disadvantages you only look at one side, not the other. You don't consider how the protector/provider role totally restricted men to only being able to work work work and earn earn earn, leading to shorter lives and a whole lot of suffering in the workplace, war, etc. without the option of being primary parent, and they still hardly have that option. Read "The Myth of Male Power" by Warren Farrell.

You state: "MEN are the one who have made the rules so look to your own kind if you don't like it."

Blaming men is just a way of avoiding a fair examination of the discrimination. The truth is that both sexes imposed gender roles on both sexes and even on themselves throughout history. As an example my prior post shows how women encouraged the protector/provider role in the form of war, encouraging men to be soldiers and fight wars and glamorized the knight in shining armor (and today the Man in Uniform). And discrimination is discrimination no matter who commits it. When a black cop racially profiles a black male, it's still discrimination (and even gender profiling though we don't talk about that much). When female judges enforce "mother" roles on women, or male judges enforce "provder" roles on men, it's still discrimination. It doesn't make it better that the discriminatory is the same sex as the victim.
.
"And who in the world said men don't get abused? Of course they do. Duh. But that has nothing to do with the heart of the article. apparently failure to comprehend is a trait here too."

Again you misunderstand. Feminists have *covered up* the frequency and severity of female-on-male DV and abuse for 40 years to promote their "patriarchy" version of it. This is very well-documented if you do your research you'll see it. Read Professor Linda Kelly's Florida State School of Law law review article, "Disabusing the Definition of Domestic Abuse: How Women Batter Men and the Role of the Feminist State" (it's online). That cover up worked because male victims have always been less likely to seek help and because it was common public perception anyway. Read the article by Professor Richard Gelles (online) called "Male Victims: The Hidden Side of Domestic Violence."

"But the truth is not changed by your lies and misinformation."

If these are lies and misinformation, show us how instead of just labeling. It's you who is misinformed, ignorant and reactionary.

Harry Crouch
Mon Dec 7 2009 19:41
It's interesting that the screamers here don't know how to Google. Anyone who disbelieves what Mr. Blumhorst says should spend a few minutes searching the Internet. Try searching for this, "us military deaths gender", then scream on back about how wrong is 99.9 percent of war related deaths being men.

As a member of the largest domestic violence coalition in America, a DV trainer, program designer, and intervenor I can confirm that for the past 35 or so years feminist contingents made great progress in instilling absolutely false and misleading information concerning perpetrators and victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. The only people who deny that now are the innocently ignorant (fooled believers), the angry ignorant (fascist believers), true believers (PC ideologues), or those who have spent their careers knowingly living a lie, the later of which could be all three of the former. if the screamers are young students remember that you are in school to learn, which does not mean take for granted all that your professors impart. Be a free thinker. Do something extraordinary. Stand out as a student. Try reading a book once in awhile, maybe even something like Who Stole Feminism by Christina Hoff Sommers. Here, truth means two things, you have to look for it and you can start with that book. After that you're on your own.

Your name
Mon Dec 7 2009 16:54
obviously those responding have not read the whole of the article. I'd like to know what stat office ever, EVER would publish a stat of 99.9999999% No reputable one. Those of you, MEN of course, defending this, show your ignorance in these comments. You really think that men have it worse than women? MEN are the one who have made the rules so look to your own kind if you don't like it.

And who in the world said men don't get abused? Of course they do. Duh. But that has nothing to do with the heart of the article. apparently failure to comprehend is a trait here too. Sorry if the truth hurts and is hard to understand. But the truth is not changed by your lies and misinformation

Kyle Knutson
Mon Dec 7 2009 14:07
I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the author, Ray Blumhorst, for an outstanding piece. The facts that he's forthrightly presented regarding male disposability cannot be refuted. The cultural dictum of "men expended, women protected" -- stunningly sexist as it is -- has gone unquestioned and unchallenged for far, far too long. Thanks, Mr. Blumhorst, for saying what needed to be said. Thanks, too, to Paul, Ken, Marc, Herby, Earl, timmmay, and masculist for their keen understanding and grasp as shown by their comments.
StopTheInhumanity
Mon Dec 7 2009 11:56
"Um, wow. Just wow. To you and to all of these comments. I was unaware that people with such poorly formed brains were capable of human language."

What a vicious, cruel, and abusive thing to say. Your ad hominem attack on the posters (people), instead of attempting to refute their facts, is despicable and reflects on your brain, not theirs. I encourage you to admit yourself to a batterer's treatment program. You apparently are in need of professional help.

Your name
Mon Dec 7 2009 11:30
Um, wow. Just wow. To you and to all of these comments. I was unaware that people with such poorly formed brains were capable of human language.
masculist
Sun Dec 6 2009 12:27
The worst kind of sexism is the belief that only females experience sexism. The Oxford Companion to Philosophy even acknowledges "masculism" as a real movement.

E. Belfort Bax (way back in 1913) from “The Fraud of Feminism”:

“It is rarely that anyone takes the trouble to refute the legend in
general, or any specific case adduced as an illustration of it.
When, however, the bluff is exposed, when the real facts of the case
are laid bare to public notice, and woman is shown, not only as not
oppressed but as privileged, up to the top of her bent, then the
apostles of feminism, male and female, being unable to make even a
plausible case out in reply, with one consent resort to the boycott,
and by ignoring what they cannot answer, seek to stop the spread of
the unpleasant truth so dangerous to their cause.”

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