A CONTROVERSIAL speaker known as The Feminists’ Nemesis received a mixed response from sixth formers at a Dursley school.

Swayne O’Pie, author of Why Britain Hates Men, attacked modern feminism for duping the country into regarding women as victims in a talk to students at Rednock School.

Youngsters present at the talk gave mixed feedback to the event, with some revealing an interest in what they had heard while others stood in firm objection.

Beginning his presentation, Swayne explored a number of issues that affect a higher level of men than women, such as suicide and homelessness.

He went on to suggest that modern feminism’s lack of interest in these areas serve as proof of the movement’s lack of interest in genuine equality.

“If feminism was about gender equality it would look at these problems faced by men and boys,” said Swayne.

“Equality was mostly achieved in the 1980s and 1990s so feminism reinvented itself as an ideology, and it has since grown into a multi-billion pound industry.”

The notion of a patriarchal society, according to Swayne, is a feminist construct that misleadingly portrays women as being oppressed - with men as their oppressors.

He continued: “Apparently we all live in a patriarchal society. But why is it we all believe women are victims of discrimination? It is the power of feminism and the ‘good women bad men’ script.”

One common theme of the speech and of Swayne’s work in general is the lack of representation for men and boys. Why, he asked, are their women’s groups, women’s officers at universities and ministers for women when equivalent positions for males do not exist.

Throughout the talk Swayne emphasised that his views were not anti-women, but that they were indeed anti-feminist, challenging a society that, in his belief, puts women at an unfair advantage.

Rednock students reacted to the talk in different ways. Patrick Millward, 17, of Cam, felt that Swayne put into words many things he had previously felt himself.

“I had had similar ideas to him before but never heard someone express those kind of views,” he said.

“It’s nice to see that it’s an actual thing. I was interested in what he said about custody of children and the idea that there are two types of feminist [equality feminist and ideological feminist]. I would be interested in doing some reading in the area.”

Georgia Lyon, 18, also from Cam, did not respond to Swayne’s presentation with the same enthusiasm.

She said: “I don’t think he represented what feminism is actually about.

“I would class myself as a feminist and did object to statements like ‘if you believe in the patriarchy you are wrong’. I don’t like to be told what my views are by a white male.

“I think it’s interesting that the school have had him come in here. I’ve seen a documentary on this topic so it was interesting to see someone with these views in person. I just hope none of the boys have been influenced by what was said.”

To read more about Swayne visit exposingfeminism.co.uk. For more news from your area visit gazetteseries.co.uk.