For some incomprehensible reason, countless people have unfairly targeted feminists, accusing them of being anti-man. Sure, feminists have crafted college programs to help men purge themselves of their own “toxic masculinity,” but that doesn’t mean they hate men. Feminists are cool with men just so long as they suppress all masculinity.
Last week, feminists were unfairly targeted yet again. Nasty anti-women women and misogynistic men alleged statements made by actress January Jones were anti-man. Jones, who starred as Betty Draper in Mad Men, told Red magazine that she’s glad her five-year-old son Xander is growing up without a father, since dads teach boys “sh**ty things” and perpetuate archaic gender stereotypes.
“It’s good to have strong women around a man,” said Jones. “To teach him to respect women. He doesn’t have a male person in his life saying ‘don’t cry’ or ‘you throw like a girl.’ All those sh**ty things dads accidentally do.”
Jones bragged that her son has many strong females in his life, adding that he still gets a lot of “bro time” from her neighbors and her dad. The actress has never publicly announced who Xander’s father is.
Okay, so, Jones’ remarks might be anti-man. But, women are oppressed because of awful men, or something, so it’s empowering!
The actress went on to note that she’s somewhat open to finding a male partner, as long as he’s liberal and not a toxic Republican.
“I just don’t feel I need a partner. Do I want one? Maybe,” she said. “But I don’t feel unhappy or lonely. It would have to be someone so amazing that I would want to make room. Someone who would contribute to my happiness and not take away from it.”
“I want a manly man in flannel, with a beard and an axe,” Jones added. “But then there’s always something wrong with him. Like he’s a Republican.”
On a serious note, the anti-man rhetoric has clearly reached a fever pitch on the Left, as demonstrated by Jones. How is a mother openly bragging about raising a son without a father because a dad would allegedly damage a young boy? Are fathers no longer vital for raising children, but only incorrectly viewed as a hindrance? And, on top of that, how are feminists silent on this statement, or worse, applauding it?
Vilifying men and actively trying to void them of their inherent masculinity is not a net gain for women or children, no matter how many feminists conflate sameness with equality. By muting masculinity, we’re actually hurting society. As eloquently stated by National Review’s David French, masculinity is a “powerful force for good” (emphasis added):
Boys will be boys, but they won’t all become men. At their best, shorthand admonitions such as “man up” or “be a man” carry with them the weight of tradition and morality that makes a simple, though difficult request: Deny self. Don’t indulge your weakness. Show courage. Avoid the easy path. Some men fall naturally into this role, for others it’s much more difficult. The proper response to those who struggle is compassion. It’s not to redefine masculinity for the minority.
For a father, there are few more rewarding things in life than helping a son become a man, to watch him test himself in productive ways and to help him cultivate and demonstrate a protective spirit. Among the great gifts a father can give a son is a sense of masculine purpose, and no that purpose isn’t a “box,” it’s a powerful force for good.