Men's Liberation needed

Mountjoy Mugger

Very disturbing article.

In the small hilly Indian state of Meghalaya, a matrilineal system operates with property names and wealth passing from mother to daughter rather than father to son - but some men are campaigning for change.

When early European settlers first arrived here they nicknamed it "the Scotland of the East" on account of its evocative rolling hills.

Coincidentally, today the bustling market in the state capital, Shillong, is awash with tartan in the form of the traditional handloom shawls worn ubiquitously since the autumn chill arrived.

Not far from here the village of Cherrapunji once measured an astonishing 26.5m (87ft) of rain in one year, a fact still acknowledged by the Guinness book as a world record.

But the rainy season is over for the time being and it is Meghalaya's other major claim to fame that I am here to investigate.

Tartan, and pipes, are popular in Shillong It appears that some age-old traditions have been ruffling a few feathers of late, causing the views of a small band of male suffragettes to gain in popularity, reviving some rather outspoken opinions originally started by a small group of intellectuals in the 1960s.

I am sitting across a table from Keith Pariat, President of Syngkhong-Rympei-Thymmai, Meghalaya's very own men's rights movement.

He is quick to assure me that he and his colleagues "do not want to bring women down," as he puts it. "We just want to bring the men up to where the women are."

Mr Pariat, who ignored age-old customs by taking his father's surname is adamant that matriliny is breeding generations of Khasi men who fall short of their inherent potential, citing alcoholism and drug abuse among its negative side-effects.

"If you want to know how much the Khasis favour women just take a trip to the labour ward at the hospital," he says.

"If it's a girl, there will be great cheers from the family outside. If it's a boy, you will hear them mutter politely that, 'Whatever God gives us is quite all right.'"

Mr Pariat cites numerous examples of how his fellow brethren are being demoralised. These include a fascinating theory involving the way that gender in the local Khasi language reflects these basic cultural assumptions.

"A tree is masculine, but when it is turned into wood, it becomes feminine," he begins.

"The same is true of many of the nouns in our language. When something becomes useful, its gender becomes female.

"Matriliny breeds a culture of men who feel useless."

I talk to Patricia Mukkum, the well-respected editor of Shillong's daily newspaper. She assures me that her heritage is only one of the reasons why she has risen to the level she has and points out that the tradition of excluding women from the political decision making process is still very strong in their culture.

As a mother of children by three different Khasi fathers however, she is the first to admit that their societal anomaly has afforded her ample opportunities to be both a mother and a successful career woman.

Making reference to the routine problems facing women just over the border in West Bengal, Miss Mukkum is resolute.

"Our culture offers a very safe sanctuary for women," she declares.

I decide to see for myself in a remote village in the East Khasi Hills. After two hours walking through thick jungle I meet 42-year-old Mary.

She is a "Ka Khadduh", the youngest daughter in her family and consequently, the one destined to live with her parents until she inherits the family house. Her husband, 36-year-old Alfred, lives with them.

When I talk to her inside their home, Mary tells me that women do not trust men to look after their money so they take control of it themselves. I glance at Alfred for a response but he musters only a smile.

Mary goes on: "Most men in our village leave school early to help their fathers in the fields. This is a great detriment to their education."

I turn to Alfred once more. He responds with another shy smile.

Mary admits she has never heard of the men's right's movement, but thinks the system will never change.

Khasi women are in charge of running the household Alfred maintains his Mona Lisa smile.

As we are talking, a praying mantis careers into our hut and slams into the side of my head.

After the laughter dies down, I take the opportunity to break the ice with Alfred by pointing out that female mantises eat their mates after sex, making a gesture with my arms mimicking the insect's claws, an action the Khasi called "takor" and one which turns out to be the gesticular equivalent of sticking two fingers up at someone. There is more laughter at my expense.

Forty minutes later however I have yet to get a comment from Mary's husband and all too soon it is time to leave.

I feel that the last word should come from Alfred so I ask my translator to target a simple question directly at him.

"What does he think of the matrilineal system?"

There is a long and considered pause. After what seems like an eternity the silence is finally broken.

"He like," pipes up Mary, and it is time to go.

©BBC.

Big Nasty

Short version anyone?

AnonoBoy

Some place where women run the show and men aren't allowed do stuff or something. I didn't really read it.

Mr.Biscuits

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Short version anyone?

Ireland's feminists are all booking flights to India en masse apparently.

Sindri

Tl;dr?

Men are bastards, women are great.

Big Nasty

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Some place where women run the show and men aren't allowed do stuff or something. I didn't really read it.

What an alternative society! :cool:

Spread

THe movement is already Khasi bound ......... just pull chain once

D1stant

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Short version anyone?

Schlong is emasculated

John Doe1

I bet the feminists cream theselves when reading this:)

Feeona

Gentlemen's Forum --->

Nothingbetter2d

i actually read it. so here is the TL,DR version

Remote Indian village is run by women.... the men's balls have not dropped in centuries.... in this village the women beat their men into the kitchen to make sandwiches

Only women have any rights in this village, men are treated in a similar manner to the way arabic women are treated.


Conclusion: the men need to grow some balls and stand up for themselves.

Attabear

Don't see what the problem is, I mean

"He like"

Spread

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Short version anyone?

Now, about the problem with your attention span, when did you first notic ........... mosquito ............. fruit fly .................... goldfish?

Sindri

Feeona wrote: »

Gentlemen's Forum --->

That's sexist.

CageWager

Mr.Biscuits wrote: »

Ireland's feminists are all booking flights to India en masse apparently.

So our little ruse has succeeded.. Exxxxcellent

o1s1n

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Short version anyone?

Small Indian state seems to afford more rights to women.

Perfect excuse for women hating men to say 'see, we have it just as bad as you do, where's our justice?! Where's our liberation?!' etc.

/Yawn.

Dudess

Fook, that's crazy!

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

the men need to grow some balls and stand up for themselves.

If only it were that simple.

Feeona

Sindri wrote: »

That's sexist.

I know, and what's more, it's sexist in a reverse way :pac:

bronte

John Doe1 wrote: »

I bet the feminists cream theselves when reading this:)

I don't think you quite "get" feminism.

stovelid

Sounds like a hindi number to me.

Ellis Dee

The article is about the customs followed by the fewer than one million members of the Khasi hill tribe in Meghalaya, which is home to nearly 3 million of India's 1.2 billion people, and was written a little tongue-in-cheek I suspect. :rolleyes:

The Khasi tribe is matrilineal - not the only one in the world by a long shot - which means that, as a general rule, the youngest daughter notionally inherits all the property, but is obliged in return to take care of aged parents and any siblings who do not marry. Note well that rights are coupled with considerable responsibilities.:)

However, a male, such as the mother’s brother, may also - indirectly - control the ancestral property. This is because he may be involved in important decisions relating to the management of the property, such as selling or otherwise alienating it. :cool:

The laws of India and of the state of Meghalaya still apply, although due consideration is given to tribal customs in legislation and judicial decisions.:)

There is no need for men's or anyone else's liberation here. Meghalaya has much more urgent problems, not least illegal mining and the detrimental effects that this has on the environment. Well over 50% of the rural population live below the official poverty line, and I suspect that property inheritance rights are of little interest or concern to those unfortunate have-nots.:eek:

It is also one of only three Indian states with a Christian majority (over 70%), thanks to the efforts of missionaries in cahoots with the colonial authorities during the Raj, and this is not necessarily good for anywhere with its own rich culture and traditions.:cool:

aaronjumper

Christ I wonder what happens to a man that leaves the toilet seat up too often.

Jen Pigs Fly

Already have my flight booked.

Can't wait to make some man my bitch

aaronjumper

xxxJennyxxx wrote: »

Already have my flight booked.

Can't wait to make some man my bitch

Are you taking offers? All I require is to be fed twice daily and I am already house trained. . . mostly.

Jen Pigs Fly

aaronjumper wrote: »

Are you taking offers? All I require is to be fed twice daily and I am already house trained. . . mostly.

You'll be making all the meals anyway just make sure you stick to your rations and there shouldn't be a problem.

And you better have some good sewing skills

Scanlas The 2nd

Feeona wrote: »

I know, and what's more, it's sexist in a reverse way :pac:

The fact that you think sexism has a direction is sexist.

Sexism is discrimination based on sex, not discrimination of women. People make the same mistake with race too.

TheZohanS

Feeona wrote: »

Gentlemen's Forum --->

<

---

Kitchen

biko

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Short version anyone?

In a remote village in Farawaystan the women makes the decisions.
Because of this there is news worldwide...

tempura

bronte wrote: »

I don't think you quite "get" feminism.

Very few people get feminism. Most think Germaine Greer, burning bras, glass ceilings etc etc.

Its a very simple thing really but thats a whole other thread.

Let the boys have their say.

mattjack

xxxJennyxxx wrote: »

Already have my flight booked.

Can't wait to make some man my bitch

Off to India ? very nice. There's a parking space, down on the left .Yeah reverse in ..a little to the left,no left ,lock hard , easy easy..



ok, I'll park it for you.

amacca

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

Sexism is discrimination based on sex, not discrimination of women. People make the same mistake with race too.

eh.....are you saying a significant amount of people think racism is discrimination based on something other than race? (or am I missing something crucial here)

tempura wrote: »

Very few people get feminism. Most think Germaine Greer, burning bras, glass ceilings etc etc.

guilty as charged I suppose......I do get feminism btw...but I also do mentally reference a rabid frothing at the mouth Germaine Greerish sort burning bras and spewing vitriol at/about men every time someone mentions feminist or feminism however



Its like a reflex or something

tempura wrote: »

Let the boys have their say.

agreed....respect the cock!:pac:

bleg

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Some place where women run the show and men aren't allowed do stuff or something.

Sounds like Ireland.

Dudess

bleg wrote: »

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Some place where women run the show and men aren't allowed do stuff or something.

Sounds like Ireland.

I know. No male politicians or senior business folk or senior civil servants in Ireland. Poor white western men...

Mr.Biscuits

tempura wrote: »

Very few people get feminism. Most think Germaine Greer, burning bras, glass ceilings etc etc.

Its a very simple thing really but thats a whole other thread.

Oh really?

Well, a quick scan of posts in this thread (and the 'thanks' so far also) makes it quite clear that many women have read this thread today and yet I see nothing close to the scornful posts that we would be seeing from said women had this thread being about a similar situation were the sexes were reversed and I think that tells us everything we need to know about feminists and feminism today, quite frankly.

tempura wrote: »

Let the boys have their say.

Thank you ma'am, most chivalrous.

Dudess

Women thanked a post highlighting what they suspect the OP's agenda was, some men did too. How do you know any of them are feminist? And if some thanks on Boards tell you everything you need to know about feminism, then you quite clearly don't get what it is.

Rape thread the other day highlighted a sh1tty attitude held by some towards women - would you get that kind of crap from women on a thread about men being raped? I very much doubt it.

Mr.Biscuits

Dudess wrote: »

How do you know any of them are feminist?

I don't and I don't need to - the fact that they are women is all that matters because feminism and feminists influence them and I know from experience on the Internet, that such women tend only to be up-in-arms when sexist opression effects women, never men - as is the case here again.

Dudess wrote: »

And if some thanks on Boards tell you everything you need to know about feminism, then you quite clearly don't get what it is.

Again, it just points to the fact that when such opressive cultures outthere in the world are exposed, feminists only really tend to be bothered when it concerns them and so their war-cries that they are standing up for equality between the sexes, gets shown up for the lie that it is in such instances as this.

Dudess wrote: »

Rape thread the other day highlighted a sh1tty attitude held by some towards women - would you get that kind of crap from women on a thread about men being raped? I very much doubt it.

No and I posted on that thread and addressed those comments - was a crazy thread.

Look, point is that if feminists and feminism were/was truely about equality, then threads such as this would not be devoid of on-topic comment from women, to the extent that it has been as there would have been at least a few who would have chimed in by now with their opinions on how wrong opressive sexism is in society. They didn't and I feel that is symptomatic of feminist thinking today, which is I feel that they have little or no interest in inequality matters when it is women who are the beneficiaries.

Dudess

So being women is enough for the feminist-bashing comments - nice.
I'm not a feminist - but people just say I am because I'm forthright and the feminists is all man-haters, derp.

Why should feminists be concerned about men's rights? That's like saying men's rights campaigners should be concerned about women's rights - unreasonable no? Maybe they shouldn't use the term equality any more though (as it's tediously used over and over as a stick to beat with).
There aren't many men too bothered by this story either - but as usual, just blame the women.

Scanlas The 2nd

amacca wrote: »

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

Sexism is discrimination based on sex, not discrimination of women. People make the same mistake with race too.

eh.....are you saying a significant amount of people think racism is discrimination based on something other than race? (or am I missing something crucial here)

[QUOTE=tempura;7663)

Some people think racism against white people is reverse racism like some people think sexism against men is reverse sexism. Thinking like that is actually racist and sexist respectively.

Scanlas The 2nd

Dudess wrote: »

So being women is enough for the feminist-bashing comments - nice.
I'm not a feminist - but people just say I am because I'm forthright and the feminists is all man-haters, derp.

Why should feminists be concerned about men's rights? That's like saying men's rights campaigners should be concerned about women's rights - unreasonable no? Maybe they shouldn't use the term equality any more though (as it's tediously used over and over as a stick to beat with).
There aren't many men too bothered by this story either - but as usual, just blame the women.

I for one have no problem with any group of people campaigning to advance their self interests. What I despise though is when they do it in the name of equality. If equality is so important to those who say it is how come we never hear how p1ssed off they are with too many rights. It's the bullsh1t of a lot of it that annoys me. It's like a text book gambit groups use to advance self interest. I should throw in the caveat that the above applies to the first world.

amacca

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

Some people think racism against white people is reverse racism like some people think sexism against men is reverse sexism. Thinking like that is actually racist and sexist respectively.

aaah....now it makes sense.

Mr.Biscuits

Dudess wrote: »

So being women is enough for the feminist-bashing comments - nice.

I'm not trying to bash anyone, it's just an opinion and I have given you my reasoning.

Dudess wrote: »

Why should feminists be concerned about men's rights?

Because the Feminist movement is supposed to be seeking 'equality'.

Have a nice evening.

bleg

Dudess wrote: »

I know. No male politicians or senior business folk or senior civil servants in Ireland. Poor white western men...

Ah, so you're one of those "Don't call me a chick" chick eh?

Indubitable

Ellis Dee wrote: »

The Khasi tribe is matrilineal

Ellis Dee wrote: »

Christian majority (over 70%)

Ellis Dee wrote: »

Well over 50% of the rural population live below the official poverty line

Hmmm. I see a pattern emerging here.

opinion guy

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

Very disturbing article.

Very disturbing ? Why so ?
Nothing that hasn't been happening all over the world for aeons with roles reversed.

Dudess

I don't know do feminists/women's rights claim to fight so much for equality in this day and age, do they? Originally, they did - but equality for women compared to men (and to be fair, women were very far off equal to men back then) but not equality across the board.
The "equality when it suits" line is a bit worn IMO. It's tediously churned out in these discussions. People who say it KNOW many feminists aren't going to fight for men's rights - and why would they? They're feminists! I'm sure the men's rights people use the E word too, but they don't mean it absolutely literally in every sense across the board - and I don't see why they should. The word is taken too literally in these discussions, as a weapon to attack.

Doc Ruby

Pfeh thats nothing, in the Mosuo culture in China the women ride whoever they like and the men lounge around conserving their strength for night-time visits.

Dudess

Scanlas The 2nd wrote: »

Some people think racism against white people is reverse racism like some people think sexism against men is reverse sexism. Thinking like that is actually racist and sexist respectively.

Ah people just call stuff "reverse" because it's more unusual than what they're used to hearing about. You're arguing semantics.

strobe

Dudess wrote: »

I don't know do feminists/women's rights claim to fight so much for equality in this day and age, do they? Originally, they did - but equality for women compared to men (and to be fair, women were very far off equal to men back then) but not equality across the board.
The "equality when it suits" line is a bit worn IMO. It's tediously churned out in these discussions. People who say it KNOW many feminists aren't going to fight for men's rights - and why would they? They're feminists! I'm sure the men's rights people use the E word too, but they don't mean it absolutely literally in every sense across the board - and I don't see why they should. The word is taken too literally in these discussions, as a weapon to attack.

Heh...

Sindri

Dudess wrote: »

I know. No male politicians or senior business folk or senior civil servants in Ireland. Poor white western men...

Ireland would be a fairly matriarchal society.

Dudess

Sindri wrote: »

Dudess wrote: »

I know. No male politicians or senior business folk or senior civil servants in Ireland. Poor white western men...

Ireland would be a fairly matriarchal society.

Since when?

up for anything

aaronjumper wrote: »

Christ I wonder what happens to a man that leaves the toilet seat up too often.

Castration by dropping the punishment lead toilet seat on the male sexual organs.