http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/men/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-few-good-men-and-the-gaps-they-face/ There’s a scene in the 1993 mob flick A Bronx Tale in which Robert De Niro’s hard-working bus driver Lorenzo comes face to face with Sonny LoSpecchio – the neighborhood mobster in the process of corrupting Lorenzo’s son ‘C’ and who never did an honest day’s work in his life. When ‘C’ comes home one day with a stack of dirty money, Lorenzo is enraged and bravely stands up to LoSpecchio in a vain attempt to save his son from an inevitable life of crime. “That’s bad money,” Lorenzo tells his boy. You can’t have it. As for you, he says addressing the mobster, “Stay away from my son”. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-few-good-men-and-the-gaps-they-face/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-few-good-men-and-the-gaps-they-face/#item8506 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sisters-are-doing-it-to-themselves-and-each-other/ Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sisters-are-doing-it-to-themselves-and-each-other/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sisters-are-doing-it-to-themselves-and-each-other/#item8436 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-divine-secret-about-this-ra-ra-sisterhood/ It’s called a glass ceiling because it’s invisible. There’s no roid-filled, bicep-thrusting bouncer at the door denying you entry, just a mysterious mix of gender-flavoured factors that prevent ascension. On the other side of this barrier are the Chosen, bathing in their power, chuckling smugly at those stuck outside. They’re definitely involved in unholy rites and they shun both the patriarchy and the razor. And they’re probably lesbians. It’s called the Sisterhood, and I have no idea who’s really in it or how you get in. I don’t think I’m in it, and I’m sure Samantha Brick won’t get a guernsey. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-divine-secret-about-this-ra-ra-sisterhood/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-divine-secret-about-this-ra-ra-sisterhood/#item8249 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/men-soften-the-fck-up/ Down your beers, out-drink and out-fight your mates. Get smashed on the weekends and impress every second chick you meet at a club. Be emotionless, aggressive and show no weakness. This tough Aussie bloke image has led a dominant social construction of manliness in Australia and sends a message that men don’t and shouldn’t struggle with stress, get depression, anxiety or any mental health issues. But if you do, the antidote to that is a bucket full of cement and some “hardening the f—k up” and she’ll be ‘right. We’re a nation so obsessed with demanding our blokes be “bullet proof” that it is literally killing us. For many, suicide is an easier option than admitting that you’re having a tough time and need a bit of help. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/men-soften-the-fck-up/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/men-soften-the-fck-up/#item7949 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/on-international-womens-day-lets-thank-the-blokes/ Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry. Gloria Steinem, 1969 I love how old-fashioned this Gloria Steinem quote seems today. Women’s lives have changed dramatically over the past forty years. This is especially true here in Australia, where women and men of my generation have grown up as equals. Our notions of being held back are focused inward. We are self-reliant, independent and act with genuine ambition on our own terms. We are free to make our own choices, and spend our lives with people who encourage them. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/on-international-womens-day-lets-thank-the-blokes/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/on-international-womens-day-lets-thank-the-blokes/#item7952 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/seven-things-i-would-miss-if-men-became-extinct/ Looks like men are going to be OK. Some panic merchants were putting it about that the Y chromosome would eventually just pack it in, leaving Earth to the females of the species – but new research has shored up the future of the males. Even though the Y has shrunk from 1400 genes to just 45, it’s got a fairly solid base. And even if the little guy responsible for turning boys into men does shuffle off this DNA coil, apparently men can be men without all of the men bits. Fascinating! But revisiting comments such as those from Oxford University genetics professor Bryan Sykes – who in 2003 declared men would likely be extinct within 125,000 and that one ‘radical’ solution would be to let them go – did make me prematurely nostalgic for the days of men. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/seven-things-i-would-miss-if-men-became-extinct/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/seven-things-i-would-miss-if-men-became-extinct/#item7839 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-wanna-knock-the-bottom-out-of-this-advertisement/ He rammed her head against the headboard. She tried to master the silent scream. She is left with a limp and her neck in a brace. This is the ethical treatment of animals, PETA style. Watch the ad above. Then watch the Sourcefed lads’ excellent discussion. It’s about a woman getting the ‘bottom knocked out of her’ by a virile vegan. But don’t worry, ladies, PETA also offers some tips on protecting yourself from his aggressive advances! penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-wanna-knock-the-bottom-out-of-this-advertisement/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-wanna-knock-the-bottom-out-of-this-advertisement/#item7792 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/How-to-spot-a-vom-com-in-10-easy-steps/ I am not a fan of romantic comedies, or as they’re called in my living room when I’m alone and in the word for low-level wordplay: “vom-coms”. My housemates are fans of romantic comedies, however, and often offer up their DVD collections for my viewing “pleasure”. Unfortunately, many of the DVD covers have been lost, due to the fact that my housemates may or may not have procured their movie collections via legitimate means. This means that, when I’m in the mood for a bit of Hollywood, I have a great teetering pile of almost identical discs imprinted with only a movie title to choose from. No pictures of Matthew McConaughey leaning quirkily and sickeningly against this week’s femme. No scrolling silver script to indicate impending matrimony or whimsical flirtation. No Heigl or Aniston or Roberts or Jessica Parker on the cover looking diagonally upwards. Just titles. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/How-to-spot-a-vom-com-in-10-easy-steps/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/How-to-spot-a-vom-com-in-10-easy-steps/#item7783 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/bugger-it-lets-talk-about-my-bottom/ Well, enough people have called me an arsehole on this website, so bugger it. Let’s talk about that part of my anatomy. Specifically, let’s talk about the colonoscopy I had a couple of years ago. And let’s do so in the spirit of Movember, a charity which raises money for two major men’s health issues – depression and prostate cancer. Movember ended yesterday. Hopefully that means there’ll be a few less Boonies and Mervs prowling the streets. Last year, Movember raised $70 million globally. This year it’ll be $93 million. Much of that money goes to medical research. Some also goes towards awareness programs. That’s what this article, with it’s admittedly vulgar headline, is all about. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/bugger-it-lets-talk-about-my-bottom/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/bugger-it-lets-talk-about-my-bottom/#item7282 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/learning-to-be-a-dads-the-same-as-learning-to-be-a-man/ There are 17 strangers in a training room. Over the course of eight hours, they’re repeatedly divided up by gender to brainstorm. At one point, the trainer makes a joke about turning testicles into a purse. It gets a laugh. This is a parenting class I attended recently. Eight couples with nothing in common except their pregnancy and an assumption that it’s apparently OK to joke about castration.  Over at news.com.au, we’ve been looking at male identity in a post-GFC jobs market and a post-post-feminist household.  We have found traditional “male” jobs in decline and what one expert called a “sex-segregated workforce” taking its toll on Aussie men. We have also found an increasing number of men seeking help through mental health services and therapy sessions. But in a way, that’s the good news – at least men are finally prepared to talk. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/learning-to-be-a-dads-the-same-as-learning-to-be-a-man/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/learning-to-be-a-dads-the-same-as-learning-to-be-a-man/#item7066 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Have you envied, admired or checked out another woman’s shoes, hair, handbag, clothes, figure or makeup today?  Walked into a party and seen a woman surrounded by men and thought: slut? Breathed a sigh of relief when your ex’s new girlfriend turned out to be fatter, uglier or poorer than you? Welcome to the world of female competition where nothing is as it seems. Competition is not a gender issue - we all compete, men and women, but it’s how it manifests in young girls that grow into adult women that is alarming.  Female competition is covert and under the radar because girls are rarely taught that competing openly with other girls is OK.  By the time most of them hit a team sport where they could potentially be encouraged to openly compete the damage is already done.