Burn your Boxers…Manchester’s ‘Menimism’ makes Headlines.
In these uncertain times, it is so easy for undergraduates to feel lost in the vast crowd of their fellow dressed-down and soon to be unemployed peers.
However, Ben Wild is an inspiration to opinionated but unheard students everywhere. He proved that if you are truly passionate about a good cause and bang on about it for long and loud enough, people will listen (even if you are a member of that forgotten class of society, known as the student population).
TheModernCaveman talks to Ben Wild, founder and champion of the University of Manchester’s MENS society. A society that tactfully and politely (but unapologetically) addresses the role of men and male issues in our society. Such a society has not been without its controversies and opponents, but it is partly thanks to such controversy that the MENS society became a national talking point. Ben Wild began appearing on the BBC World service, on Women’s Hour and his face even graced the dizzying heights of Grazia magazine. TheModernCaveman interviewed Ben to see what all the fuss was about….
MC: What’s your name and where d’you come from?
BW: I’m Ben Wild. I was born in Lyon, France, but I’ve lived in Leeds since I was 8.
MC: What’s the difference between a Men’s society and Manchester’s MENS society?
BW: A Men’s society is one that is run and attended solely by men. MENS is a society that addresses male-specific health and welfare issues and is open to anyone who is interested. MENS stands for the Masculinity Exploring Networking and Support group.
MC: Why is there a need for a MENS society?
BW: Because issues such as prostate and testicular cancer, male on male violence and rape, domestic abuse against men, stigma against men in ‘unmasculine’ jobs, custody and parental leave inequalities, and general stereotyping of what it is to ‘be a man’ are not being addressed.
MC: Ever since the Society began you’ve come under a barrage of criticism, opposition and controversy. What do you think is the single most controversial thing about MENS?
BW: I think the most controversial thing is the fact that it exists. Nothing we have actually done has gathered much criticism. The trouble is that people are instantly suspicious of anything that seems to go against the tide of received wisdom when it comes to tough issues. Considering the troubled history of gender relations and patriarchal domination, this reaction is understandable, though not excusable in its prejudice. The best way to counter this suspicion is by proving ourselves through our actions and this is what we are doing. There is only so much theorising and philosophising we can do, and when it comes to fundraising and campaigning on male-specific health issues, actions really do speak louder than words.
MC: You’ve done many a media interview since the MENS society was established. Have you found any of them tough?
BW: None of the interviews have been too difficult because they simply involve telling the truth, which comes naturally. It’s worth bearing in mind that those groups who really don’t like us won’t try and talk to us to get our side of the story!
MC: Where do you see the new wave of Menimism taking the MENS society?
BW: I would like every university to have a MENS society or some equivalent of it. . Ultimately, as with any humanitarian group, our goal is to work ourselves into redundancy by addressing all of the issues we set out to address.
