“Are males oppressed by patriarchy?”

That was one of two questions raised during the second “Unmasking the Male Feminist: How can a male be a feminist? Humanity Beyond Gender” forum held last Thursday in the Science Building.

The Philosophy Club and Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance sponsored the event.

More than 25 students and faculty heard a response to the question that said, “Why should a male be a feminist?” The following four panelists who answered the questions were:

? Philosophy instructor Ted Stolze? Sociology instructor Amy Holzgang? Philosophy and sociology major Guillermo Tellez? Psychology major Alex Armendariz

Stolze began the discussion of what was believed to be the role of a feminist, it being gender roles in society, but said that there is something else that is important to end with it.

Patriarchy in a society is when the man is the authority within a family, but Stolze said that something needs to end and noted that feminists are not who they seem to be.

“There must be an end to physical abuse, violence against women and society must be able to be gender-free.” He also added that there are feminists whom are pro-life.

In regard to personal relationships, Stolze said when it comes to what is referred to as “maternity leave”, the Cerritos faculty manual regards it as a temporary disability. That is where is he disagrees.

“This is totally unacceptable to me because it is not about having a disability.”

There needs to be a press for enlightenment with regard to what a disability is, according to Stozle.

As for the gender role in society, he commented that there has been a gender reconstruction.

Holzgang said that as far as she’s concerned, nobody in society is living in a free market and that there is no equality among men and women.

But economics instructor Diane Keenan questioned the fact that women have been faced with inequality in wages.

“When a woman has the responsibility of child care she is considered less committed,” she said.

In addition, women have been subjected to less promotion because of it, but in Sweden the adoption of wages has been addressed and there is an influence in society.

In another point, masculinity is also something that patriarchy has a narrow point of view, Holzgang said.

As an example, she said that if you have ever gone into a toy store, everything is separated between boys and girls and the same is for men and women’s clothing at a department store.

A parent who does that, she considers to be brave.

Why, she asked, can’t you expose children to both genders?

That is, if a child wants to have toys for a girl or a boy or both that they can. Ultimately she explained, “Children are exposed to gender from the moment of birth.”

Another of Holzgang’s points was the consideration of the romantic patriarchy. Holzgang said that to have patriarchy in society hurts not only women but men as well, “because the way men show love is through violence.”

While that is true, Stolze said that for those in attendance, they also have to consider what he called, “The Jackass Culture” that is, the internet that is aimed at men who are called players and women who are called sluts if he or she has numerous relationships.

Armendariz said that it all leads back to the education people are exposed to at home.

In the end, Holzgang said that what should happen is an embracing and understanding of feminism identity.

Afterward, Cerritos students said that the information that addressed feminism was informative.

Francisco Arvizu, sociology and economic major, said that holding events such as the male feminist forum is a good thing.

“It frees males who are feminist and it makes it safe.” Also, he said that what is important to know is that men and women are equal.

Art Torres, music major, said that he has a better understanding of feminism because of the forum.

“It was interesting because what I walked away with was that people need to be educated about what feminism is.”

Having been born with autism, Debbie Peralta, business major, said that she has a better appreciation for feminism.

What it did is raise more questions about why women are considered ‘sluts’ and that what she hoped to do is raise her children in a household that treats everyone equally.

Armendariz also thought that educating those in attendance was important. “I hope that it lit a flame in the students and the discussion was terrific because people had opinions.”

He said that it was good that people had things to say; but it was important to hear others too.