Saturday, December 25, 2021

The Unheard Gender: The Neglect of Men as Social Work Clients


You’ve head about the male suicide epidemic, right? Here’s how you can understand the fact that men struggling with serious depression usually do not get help ESPECIALLY when they seek it from “helping professionals.” (No, the reason is not that which is expressed in the popular man-hater formula, “toxic masculinity.”)

An important survey of the professional literature:

EXCERPT: Various factors contribute to social workers' neglect of men. One is that most social workers are women and find it easier to work with women, whose outlook and language are usually closer to their own. . . .  In few if any social work courses are men — their needs, their gender-related ways of manifesting and coping with distress, and interventions specifically geared to them — an inherent part of the curriculum.

To right the imbalance and address the needs of men, social work must, first of all, acknowledge that men have unique problems, needs and unique ways of manifesting their distress (e.g. Baum, 2003). The principles are the same as with any underserved population. In the absence of sufficient knowledge, research is required on men's needs and problems (e.g. Guterman and Lee, 2005), as well as on effective ways of offering and providing help to men so as to increase the chances that they will accept it (e.g. Osborn, 2014).

Moreover, to establish a good helping relationship with their male clients, it is essential that female social workers take account of the possible effects of the gender of the two parties.

Nehami Baum, “The Unheard Gender: The Neglect of Men as Social Work Clients,”
British Journal of Social Work. 2016 Jul; 46(5): 1463–1471.

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Two articles supporting and expanding on Nehami Baum’s findings:

Virginia Amato (MSW, RSW), “Listening to Men: Are Men the Unheard Gender?” Journal of Sociology and Social Work, December 2017, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 173-177.

Abstract: An ontological view of conceptualizing the world that women are more important than men may create a male gender bias which gets trapped in and blurs the epistemological lens of how one sees the world. .. . .

Women have voiced their concerns to helping professionals for their inequities and people listened to the women (Turner, 2011). Men have voiced their concerns to helping professionals for their iniquities, but few have listened to men’s concerns leading to the perception of the “unheard gender” (Baum, 2015).

The difference for women is that the helping institutions have implemented mandates to encourage women and predominately entailed women listening to women (Turner, 2011). The problem a male client may encounter during the helping process may be based on his gender (Baum, 2015; Smithers, 2012).

[Virginia Amato (MSW, RSW), “Listening to Men: Are Men the Unheard Gender?” Journal of Sociology and Social Work December 2017, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 173-177.]

ALSO: Virginia Amato, “The social construction of a possible male gender bias is negatively impacting fathers in child welfare services: Hammering a square peg into a round hole,” pp. 466-474, Pub. online: Feb. 7, 2018]

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This YouTube talk shows how the psychology profession overtly promotes anti-male behavior.

The Psychology of Hate,” by Paul Elam from A Voice for Men Radio.

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Here’s an important new article about the “empathy gap” ---

, “Male suicide: a question of value,” A Voice for Men, Nov. 13, 2017

“Published under a pseudonym, it was written by a mainstream journalist who encountered significant push back and refusals when he tried to have it published in more mainstream channels. Thus he turned to A Voice for Men, where the facts matter more than the narrative.”

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EXCERPT: Males in the U.S. die by suicide so much more than females that the rate is an astounding 3.5 to 1, or 78 percent of all suicides. That equates to once every 15 minutes. …

Yet the professional response to this is one of neutrality. The website for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has comparative graphs of suicide by state, age, and even race, yet none for gender. There is no mention of gender beyond the 3.5 statistic, and no section discussing male suicide. Even in its opening video on the front page there are no men, save a few in the background of a crowd. There is similar sparse acknowledgement from the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC). The SPRC has an underdeveloped section about men in their “populations” tab. … [continued]

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: “Male suicide: a question of value,” A Voice for Men, Nov. 13, 2017

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ALSO: This articulate and crucial 28 minute talk on the overlooked facts of male suicide.


“The Truth about Male Suicide part one,” Men Are Good! (Tom Golden), YouTube, Jun. 26, 2017, 14:25
“The Truth about Male Suicide part two,” Men Are Good! (Tom Golden), YouTube, Jun. 26, 2017, 13:23

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BEING MALE IN A FEMINIST CULTURE

Janice Fiamengo
Professor of English, University of Ottawa

ABSTRACT: According to our dominant cultural narrative, men in western societies are privileged and powerful, and have used their power throughout history to oppress and control women. Men's own accounts of their experiences, however, tell a very different story. They highlight how it feels to believe, with justification, that one is unwelcome--even despised--in one's own society. Such stories of alienation must no longer be ignored. We can keep on telling men that when they articulate experiences of powerlessness and injustice, they’re really just bitter about sharing power with women, but the sting of the injustice will not thereby diminish. We can keep on showing men that if they object to the feminist story, a massive arsenal of shame will be unleashed upon them, but that will only increase men’s anger and withdrawal.

Robert Estephe’s note: "Feminism" is a political ideology, not an objective depiction of reality, therefore the term "feminist" should never be confused with feminine or woman-orirented.

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Friday, December 24, 2021

Read This Book and Promote It (Period!) – The Boy Crisis, by Warren Farrell & John Gray


The Boy Crisis is the most important book of the 21st century. . . . If you care about the very survival of humankind, you must read this book.” — Jed Diamond, PhD, author of The Irritable Male Syndrome

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cr6piMXiJA

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The Boy Crisis brilliantly explores the challenges facing our sons—and everyone. The sections on ADHD, the role of mothering and fathering, and developing boys’ health intelligence are priceless and life-changing.” — Suzanne Somers

“Drs. Farrell and Gray frighten and enlighten us in their brilliant analysis, insights, wisdom, and practical solutions to The Boy Crisis . . . essential reading for every parent, teacher, and policy-maker.” — Philip Zimbardo, PhD, former president of the American Psychological Association and Stanford University professor

“It would be impossible to read this book and not become a better parent, teacher, or thought leader.” — Marci Shimoff, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“What The Feminine Mystique did for girls and women, The Boy Crisis does for boys and men. An eloquently written, compelling tour de force, The Boy Crisis presents a long overdue vision of boys’ self-worth, sense of purpose, and idea of heroism that will leave our boys happier, healthier, and better prepared to sustain love.” — Dr. Richard A. Warshak, author of Divorce Poison

“A must-read for anyone who cares about our boys, our schools, our culture, and the future of our country.” — Helen Smith, PhD, author of Men on Strike 

“Arresting, alarming, and impeccably researched, The Boy Crisis is a must-read for every parent, educator, and policymaker who cares about the future of boys and girls.” — Michael G. Thompson, PhD, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Raising Cain

“Original, thoughtful, and filled with gems of practical wisdom to understand and support the future of boys.” — Jack Canfield, coauthor of the #1 New York Times bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul® series 

“As an activist in the women’s movement, I’m proud of expanding life choices for our daughters. But no one did the same for our sons—until now. Dr. Warren Farrell shines his searchlight on the ‘boy problem with no name’ in this totally absorbing, astonishing, and masterful book. Best of all, he offers parents and educators straightforward solutions with a heart full of compassion.” — Gail Sheehy, author of Passages and Understanding Men’s Passages

The Boy Crisis is a groundbreaking and exhaustively researched book about one of the most vital and disastrous yet underreported topics in America by one of the most thoughtful writers of our time. As the wife of a dad-deprived man, and the mother of a dad-enriched son, I can personally vouch for its deep significance.” — Suzanne Venker, Fox News contributor and author of The War on Men

"The Boy Crisis will deepen your awareness and help you guide your son through the many dilemmas and ordeals that attend the journey from boyhood to manhood. Profoundly helpful." — Sam Keen, author of Fire in the Belly and Prodigal Father, Wayward Son 

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Thursday, December 23, 2021

Duan Zhiqun, Half of a Serial Killer Bandit Couple – China, 2003


FULL TEXT: A couple have been arrested and accused of robbing and killing 12 women in southern China over a five-month period, preying on job seekers in the boomtown of Shenzhen, state media and local officials said Wednesday.

Ma Yong, a 43-year-old man, and Duan Zhiqun, a 20-year-old woman, are suspected of luring the women by posing as employment brokers, the Xinhua News Agency reported late Tuesday.

A Shenzhen police official who gave his name only as Mr. Xie confirmed the details to The Associated Press but had no further information.

Ma was arrested Oct. 12 and Duan was arrested Oct. 23, the report said. Identification cards, clothes and traces of blood from the murdered women were found in the suspects' home, and the 12 victims' bodies were found around the Buji Township section of Shenzhen, Xinhua said.

The couple are accused of killing the women and taking their belongings, the report said, noting that the victims had mobile phones and “looked physically weak.”

“They were motivated by money,” a Buji Township government worker who gave his name only as Mr. Xu told The Associated Press. Six police stations in the area had received reports of women who disappeared while looking for work between May and September. A Buji police official who wouldn't give his name said most of the 12 women were from mainland China and were seeking jobs in Shenzhen.

Shenzhen, which is in Guangdong province just opposite Hong Kong, is a special economic zone with preferential policies to attract foreign investment and promote China's efforts to become more market-focused.

["Couple in south China accused of killing 12 women," The China Daily, Nov. 12, 2003]

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FULL TEXT (auto-translate from Chinese): In just half a year in 2003, in the name of "recruitment", the two lured 12 women who were looking for jobs alone into their rental house, killed them by strangling their necks, and then looted their carry-on luggage. Mobile phones, bags and other belongings, and then brutally dismembered the victims into countless small pieces and discarded in the river or in the grass.

Ma Yong, 43 years old at the time, a native of Hengdong County, Hunan Province, with a technical secondary school education. Since he came to Shenzhen, he has been underappreciated for many times and cannot find a job. After a long time, he has no reason to resent the society and began to think about doing things Do something criminal to get revenge on society.

At the end of 2001, Ma Yong met Duan Zhiqun, a 20-year-old woman from Pengxi County, Sichuan Province, during a prostitution visit. Because Ma Yong was kind to her, the two soon developed into a cohabiting couple, living together in Daping, Buji Town, Shenzhen. In a rental house on the road.

Duan Zhiqun was sold to a brothel as a prostitute by a human trafficking gang when he was 14 years old, and his life has been unsatisfactory. Under Ma Yong's gentle offensive and instigation, the two began their criminal road.

From May to October 2003, the two came to an employment agency in Buji Town, Longgang District, Shenzhen, to pretend to be a representative of a recruitment company many times.

In the name of introducing jobs, they tricked 12 women into their rental house in Phuket Town, and attacked from behind while the victims were looking down at the job-seeking materials on the table.

Strong hands strangled him and plundered the victims' mobile phones, handbags and other belongings.

Afterwards, the two dragged the victims into the bathroom, and Ma Yong dismembered the bodies with fruit knives, kitchen knives, and axes. In order to prevent the identity of the victims from being exposed, they also used scissors to damage or strip the victims' faces and hair. , and then wrapped the corpse in five or six black plastic bags, and dumped it in the Buji Nong Market and the wilderness near the Buji River.

In just half a year, there have been frequent disappearance cases, and the missing women are all single women in their 20s who are looking for a job. The successive disappearances of young girls were taken seriously, and investigations were carried out. Subsequently, Ma Yong and Duan Zhiqun were finally arrested and brought to justice from October 12 to October 23, 2003.

During the interrogation, the two confessed to the crime of murdering 12 victims. According to the confession, Ma Yong committed a total of 12 crimes, and Duan Zhiqun participated in the crimes 5 times and robbed 10 mobile phones.

On November 25, 2003, Ma Yong and Duan Zhiqun used the method of killing others to steal property for the purpose of illegal possession, which violated the provisions of Article 263 of the Criminal Law of my country and constituted the crime of robbery. Because of their extremely cruel, vile and harmful means of committing crimes, the consequences were particularly serious, and the court issued a death sentence in accordance with the law in the first instance.

[“The male and female mad demons who dismembered 12 women: Ma Yong and Duan Zhiqun,” KK News (China), Aug. 10, 2018.]

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段志群 Duànzhìqún
 
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[Ma Yong and Duan Zhiqun brutally robbed and killed 12 job-seeking girls yesterday (Photos) http://www.sina.com.cn December 19, 2003 16:12 Xinhuanet; 残忍劫12名求职少女 马勇、段智群昨日伏法(组图), http://www.sina.com.cn 2003121916:12 网]

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http://unknownmisandry.blogspot.com/2012/07/serial-killer-couples.html

Links to more Serial Killer Couples

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