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Two Sides of Equality: Exploring Men’s Rights and Feminism

What is a Men’s Rights Activist (MRA)? Some may find this term absurd or even made up, but men’s rights activists are a select group of individuals who hold strong beliefs about the perceived social or institutional structures against men and boys. The Anti-Defamation Movement (ADI) describes the Men’s Rights movements as “part of the manosphere, a broad set of male supremacist, anti-feminist, misogynist and sometimes violent movements that exist largely online” (Anti-Defamation League). The tracking of the Men’s Rights movements dates back to the late 1800s. In 1886, a literary art and politics magazine called Putnam’s Monthly published an article titled “A Word about Men’s Rights.” The article was formative when expressing men’s feelings toward the women’s rights movement and how it had “gone too far.” Paul Elam, a prominent leader in the men’s rights movement, founded the ‘International Conference of Men’s Issues’ in the hope of increasing attention on the men’s rights movement. MRAs have tried to frame their actions as “reform” and “progress,” asserting that they supported women’s rights while targeting feminism.

Conversely, the women’s rights movement began with the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, marking the start of efforts to secure gender equality. Ever since then, feminists have fought for women’s right to vote, economic and political equality, and the legalization of abortion, and have pushed the agenda for women and men to be held on the same pedestal. Some may dismiss the “feminist” term as unnecessary or outdated, but feminists are a diverse group of individuals who hold strong beliefs about the need to dismantle social and institutional barriers against women and girls. The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) describes feminism as “the advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes” (National Women’s History Alliance). The fight for women’s rights dates back centuries, gaining momentum with the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, where Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott laid the foundation for the women’s suffrage movement. In 1913, Alice Paul, a key suffragist, helped organize the Women’s Suffrage Parade, which pressured lawmakers to pass the 19th Amendment in 1920. Another pivotal figure, Dolores Huerta, co-founded the United Farm Workers and fought for labor rights for women, ensuring equal wages and protections for female agricultural workers. Feminists have continuously framed their actions as progress and justice, asserting that equality benefits society as a whole.

A Statistical Survey

Back in 2017, in a survey monitored for high school seniors of the past 40 years, sociologists Joana Peppin and David Cotter found that from 1994 to 2014, an increase from 42% to 58% of students thought that the “best family” was one in which the man earned the income while the woman stayed at home (Miller). However, the problem with this belief system is that it restricts women to only cooking, cleaning, and housework and doesn’t allow for proper societal progression. Moreover, it prevents women from following their genuine passions and entering the labor force. 

In an article from the Survey Center of American Life, it has been reported that 42% of Generation Z consider themselves to be feminists, compared to the 52% of men who are from the Millennial era who feel comfortable calling themselves feminists. In 2019, less than a third of young men in America believed that men are experiencing discrimination in American society, and four years later, almost half of young men believe that men today face gender-based discrimination. 

Given this is a complex and controversial topic, we need to look at both sides holistically with historical context. Although we have come a long way from the times when women cooked in the household while men fought wars and were the primary breadwinners, there are still stereotypes and deep-rooted biases for both sides.

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A Case for Women’s Rights

On one hand, the women's rights movement has been a long and ongoing struggle for gender equality, addressing disparities across multiple aspects of life. Historically, women have fought for equality in employment, advocating for equal pay, access to careers, and protection against workplace discrimination. In education, the movement has pushed for equal access to academic opportunities and for breaking down barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields. Sheryl Sandberg is a prominent example, who, during her tenure as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Facebook (now Meta), demonstrated her ability to excel in the tech industry, which historically has had low representation of women in executive leadership roles. According to the Women in the Workplace 2024 report, for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women receive that same promotion, reflecting persistent gaps in upward mobility. 

In healthcare, women have fought for comprehensive care, reproductive rights, and the right to make decisions about their own bodies, including access to contraception and abortion.

Abortion has been particularly contested: Roe v. Wade (1973) legalized abortion nationwide, but it was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022 (Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization), leaving abortion laws up to individual states. Currently, about 14 U.S. states have near-total bans, while others maintain protections. The most notable example is the nationwide non-profit organization Planned Parenthood, which for over a century has worked on providing accessible healthcare and sexual education through patient services, education, and advocacy (Planned Parenthood). Beyond these, the organization has challenged restrictive gender roles in family and society, calling for shared responsibilities in caregiving and domestic duties. 

In today’s contemporary societies in most developed and developing countries, women have gained equal status as economies improve and greater equality in employment opportunities has begun to take shape. However, biologically speaking, women still have to bear children and take maternity leave to care for them while men go to work. Moreover, women are genetically less physically capable than men. So, is biology a barrier to gender equality? If so, how do we take this into account? Women have worked to break barriers in media and sports, where they have historically been underrepresented and marginalized. For example, in 2024, the NCAA women’s basketball championship game averaged 18.9 million viewers—outpacing the men’s final, which averaged 14.8 million viewers (Nielsen / Axios). Across all these areas, the women's rights movement has highlighted the systemic disparities women face and called for a more inclusive and equal society.

A Case for Men’s Rights

The men’s rights movement highlights a range of issues that it believes are often overlooked in discussions of gender equality, focusing on challenges that disproportionately affect men. These include higher suicide rates, homelessness, military draft, false domestic and sexual violence abuse accusations, and disparities in criminal sentencing. Many Men’s Rights Activists have brought up higher suicide rates due to factors such as unemployment, financial stress, relationship issues, and mental health, accounting for nearly 80% of all suicides (CDC). The movement also addresses the challenges men face in child custody battles, where they often feel disadvantaged in securing equal access to their children. Workplace deaths, particularly in high-risk industries like construction, mining, and logging, are another key issue, as men make up the vast majority of such fatalities. The movement points to men’s shorter life expectancies compared to women as an area of concern. In the United States, as of 2021, the average life expectancy for men was 73.5 years, compared to 79.3 years for women (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Jamie).

Additionally, the men’s rights movement highlights the higher rates of male homelessness. In August of this year, the U.S. Department of Housing reported that over 60% of homeless people are men, and nearly 70% of homeless men are not in shelters (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). In 2021, the LAPD reported that 74 of the 85 reported unhoused homicides were men (Los Angeles Police Department). False accusations of sexual assault and harassment are another focal point, with men’s rights activists arguing that these cases can lead to severe personal and legal consequences (David).

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Finally, the movement raises concerns about perceived disparities in criminal sentencing, with men often facing harsher penalties than women for similar offenses (Matthew). In a 2012 case of United States v. Blewett, the defendants, two male cousins, were sentenced under harsher mandatory minimums for crack cocaine offenses than women with similar charges [United States Courts]. A 2015 study by Sonja Starr, a law professor at the University of Michigan, found that men received sentences that were, on average, 63% longer than those of women for comparable crimes (Sonja). Overall, the men’s rights movement seeks to draw attention to the challenges men face, advocating for more recognition and support in addressing these issues.

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Conclusion and Takeaways

All in all, the quest for gender equality is multifaceted and deeply rooted in societal values, historical contexts, and cultural norms. Both feminist movements and men's rights activism raise legitimate concerns, shedding light on disparities that deserve attention. Feminism addresses systemic barriers faced by women, while men’s rights advocates highlight issues like mental health, domestic violence, and sentencing disparities. Therefore, we must acknowledge that gender equality is not a zero-sum game. Rather than framing the discussion as a binary debate where one side is right, and the other is wrong, true equality requires acknowledging the challenges of all genders, fostering empathy, and avoiding polarization. Ultimately, the goal should not be to elevate one group over another but to create a balanced society where equity and respect prevail for everyone, regardless of gender.

Works Cited