The Second National for Conference for Men and Boys has been reviewed by journalist Ally Fogg in a Guardian ‘comment is free’ article for International Men’s Day, in which he sings the praises of the emerging men and boys’ sector in the UK.
He writes” “The men’s sector, as represented that day, includes many brilliant organisations. In isolation they have done great things. But in coming together as a sector, for International Men’s Day or for a conference, we may be seeing the seeds of a new unity, a recognition that the problems they face are often the same one.
“Although it was billed as an event for the men and boys “sector”, conference organiser Glen Poole used his own plenary session to spell out his dream of a global men’s movement.
“The vision laid out by Poole was very different. Like the day itself, it focused on specific social injustices that specifically or disproportionately affect men and boys, mostly well-recognised and uncontroversial. All he did was join the dots.
“Are we seeing the seeds of a new men’s movement? The phrase seems grandiose, but the word “sector” is not enough. To begin to address and reverse these problems will need not only the intervention of specialist services, but the engagement of the media, politics and the public at large. The first step in solving any problem is to identify and acknowledge its existence, and International Men’s Day is a very good place to start.”
The article is followed by hundreds of readers comments both supporting and challenging International Men’s Day and the value of a men’s movement. The comments include this one from a reader called JDBurton:
“Hurray! No, in fact HALLELUJAH! The fact that IMD has inspired the Guardian to print an actually thoughtful article that suggests this, rather than the usual stereotyping dross it usually publishes about men shows that it’s already had an effect. This has made me happy.”
Click here now to read the full article.
Glen Poole is UK co-ordinator for International Men's Day, Director at the consultancy Helping Men and news editor of insideMAN magazine. Follow him on twitter @HelpingMen or find out more about his work at www.helpingmen.co.uk.
Men's News From Brighton & Hove, England 
Click to access JosolyneSimonThesisWebVersion020512.pdf
Possibly Dr Josolyne would respond to an invite for next years Conference.