There is a very serious social concern in Canada right now. Our government, the power structure that is supposed to represent the people, is letting men die with negligent apathy. This overwhelming lack of concern for men's health is allowing our fathers, lovers, brothers, and sons to dominate every leading cause of death in our country, and by an enormous margin. How come this oppressive system lets men die in such a disproportionate way? What are the circumstances? Is it sexism? Statistics Canada, Health Statistics Division says this: selected leading causes of death, by sex, in Canada, 1994 rate.’ & number % total males females 207077 100.0 675.6 870.8 528.5 malignant neoplasm 57324 27.7. 188.3 239.0 153.9 diseases of the heart 56960. 27.5 41842 245.0 137.8 cerebrovascular disease 15306 7.4... 48.1 54.3. 45.2 chronic obstructive lung diseases and allied conditions 8820 re a4 fe 46.4 18.3 accidents and adverse effects 8687 4.2.29. 40.9 18.1 pneumonia and influenza 7302 Vial ewe 30.6 18.8 diabetes mellitus $185 2.5 16:8 20.0 144 suicide 3749 1B 127 20.6 5.2 nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis 2480 4.2 8.0 10.6 6.4 chronic liver disease and cirrhosis 2208 4:1 73 10.7 4.4 HIV infection 1628 0.8 a5 59 0.9 all other cases 37348. 18.0 121.9 142.9 105.0 1. Age-standardized mortality rate per 100 O00 population. source: Statistics Canada, Health Statistics Division | am writing in order to change both men's and women’s attitudes towards men. By no means am | trying to belittle Feminism, Women's Movements, or the suffering endured by women around the world. | am dealing with local concerns relative to my family, friends, and myself. Feminists have success- fully popularized the notion that men hold the power, and defined it as patriarchy. Patriarchy is “the universal political structure which privileges men at the expense of women."1 This is true for many, but it is definitely not universal. This definition should be more specifically pointed at those | would call the “power elite", or the positions of greatest influence: This "power elite" being made up of men, who make important decisions that effect everybody. Such as politicians, judges, CEOs, bankers. You get the idea. The "power elite" is manipulated mainly by a few specific men, but it is not representative of masculinity as a whole nor should this generalize men as dominant controllers. | would like to challenge’ the conventional views on privilege and power, and shed light on some of the oppression that men also experience within a patriarchal society. Much of the suffering men experience is invisible, mainly because we are taught not to share it but just to endure it. What | am talking about is not a popular subject nor generally accepted as valid discourse, but | feel it is important and will hopeful- ly help foster more compassion and empathy between the sexes. | have been greatly influenced by a book | read recently, called The Myth of Male Power, by Warren Farrel, Ph.D. | don't agree with every- Historically, gender socialization robbed both men and women of the chance to choose which roles they wanted to take in life. There is a very serious social concern in Canada right now. Our government, the power structure that is supposed to represent the people, is letting men die with negligent apathy. This ‘overwhelming lack of concer for men’s health is allowing our fathers, lovers, brothers, and sons to dominate every leading cause of death in our country, and by an enormous margin. How come this oppressive system lets men die in such a disproportionate way? What are the circumstances? Is it sexism? Statistics Canada, Health Statistics Division says this: selected leading causes of death, by sex, in Canada, 1994 ° rate * e number % total males females: all causes 207077__100.0 675.0 870.8 528.5 ‘malignant neoplasm 57324 27.7 188.9 239.0 153.9 diseases of the heart 56960 27.5 184.2 245.0 137.8 cerebrovascular disease 15306. 7.4 49.1 54.3 45.2 chronic obstructive lung diseases and allied conditions 8920 42 289 46.4 18.3 accidents and adverse effects 8687 42 294 409 18.4 pneumonia and influenza 7302 3.5 23.3 30.6 18.8 diabetes melitus 5165 2.5 16.8 20.0 14.4 suicide 3749 14,8 12.7 20.6 5.8 nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis 2480 1.2 «8.0 10.6 6.4 chronic liver disease and cirrhosis TT ee Re RES [sy HIV infection 1628 08 55 99 O09 all other cases 97348 18.0 121.9 142.9 105.0 1. Agestanderdized mortality rte per 100 000 population. | am writing in order to change both men’s and women's attitudes towards men. By no means am | trying to belittle Feminism, Women's Movements, or the suffering endured by women around the world. | am dealing with local concerns relative to my family frends, and myself. Feminists have success- fully popularized the notion that men hold the power, and defined it as patriarchy. Patriarchy is *the universal politcal structure which privileges men at the expense of women.*1 This is true for many, but it is definitely not universal. This definition should be more specifically pointed at those | would call the *power elite”, or the positions of greatest influence: This “power elite” being made up of men, who make important decisions that effect everybody. Such as politicians, judges, ‘CEOs, bankers. You get the idea. The "power elite" is manipulated mainly by a few specific men, but it is not representative of masculinity as a whole nor should this generalize men as dominant controllers. | ‘would like to challenge'the conventional views on privilege and power, and shed light on some of the ‘oppression that men also experience within a patriarchal society. Much of the suffering men experience is invisible, mainly because we are taught not to share it but just to endure it. What | am talking about ‘not a popular subject nor generally accepted as valid discourse, but | feel itis important and will hopeful- ly help foster more compassion and empathy between the sexes. | have been greatly influenced by a book I read recently, called The Myth of Male Power, by Warren Farrel, Ph.D. I don't agree with every- Historically, gender Socialization robbed both men and women of the chance to choose which roles they wanted to take in life.