I also note that whilst men and women have equal access to guns in America the wanton killing sprees are inevitably executed by men! I feel that this machismo is less pronounced in the UK but certainly exists. This reflects in the popularity (misplaced) of the likes of Farage and Johnson – a ‘cheeky bad boy’ image is portrayed in different ways by both. Britain in general avoided the Hollywood macho cowboy version of history. Britains history has evolved slowly and whilst there are very nasty sections of our history that many wish to hide like slavery, our place in the world has not been by the brazen conquering and vanquich of both the indigenous population and the environment which has been America’s past and to some extent present!
I blame my generation as ever! My generation were brought up in a misogynistic world. Women stayed at home and looked after the children after having worked as a secretary, nurse or in a shop. Men were the bread winners and as such expected a meal on the table when they got home. As the situation slowly changed, roles at home did not! Living by myself for the past 24 years I realise that there are chores that I have never seen as mine! But I digressm girls of today are not looking, in general, for a dominant partner (financially or status wise). This equality leaves many men as less attractive and ultimately frustrated. Porn on the internet at best shows women as subservient and at worst as victims of violence.
Roles have changed, but society has yet to catch up. It is interesting that it is under 30’s men who are feeling vulnerable. Especially the less qualified, these are also the racists and homophobes. They resent the females who get ‘their’ jobs and yearn for the symbols of machismo – the Harley Davidson, the alloy wheels, the designer jeans. These are within their abilities, but the role of provider is beyond them. Here I am not talking about the skilled craftsman (plumber, electrician, carpenter, etc.) but about the labourer, office worker with no ambition. I think I am being too generalistic here! I think it may apply to all men, or at least all sections of society. The young of today will look at their parents and grandparents and see women doing the housework and cooking (and fuck off if you think cooking one or two ‘signature meals’ counts – especially when the mess created is cleaned up by te wife!
So arguments need to be won by intelligence, not ‘I pay the rent/mortgage and provide housekeeping’. Does that word ‘housekeeping’ even exist today? Men will have to come to terms with equality in the workplace, society and the bedroom! Obviously I am not experienced in the latter, but contraception enables a woman to get what she wants, just like a man! OMG that sounds dreadfully sexist, I think? Forgive me for being a privileged, white, 71 year old male who grew up in a very misogynistic, homophobic and racist society. Things have changed radically, and as ever with change. There are those who cannot cope and reject it. They should just go and have a wank!
I finish with this statistic. A 2013 global study on homicide by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found that males accounted for about 95 percent of all convicted homicide perpetrators worldwide.
The other 5% were mainly those who responded by killing their would be killers?