n the area of gender equality, the focus has rightly been on raising awareness about - and removing barriers for - women. We are, however, also aware of some of the specific issues faced by men. Men are under-represented in the student population as a whole; they are also significantly under-represented in a number of academic disciplines across all three faculties."

200 signatories have criticised the University's decision to recognise International Men's Day in an an open letter addressed to University Registrar and Chair of the Equality and Diversity Committee Dr David Duncan and Academic Support Officer Dr Adrian Lee.The letter was written in response to a post on the University's website that championed the cause of men's equality in line with the controversial International Day. Lee was quoted in the post as saying, "iThe statement outlined that "men currently have to wait longer than women before they receive a State pension and at certain stages in life, they are less well protected by equality legislation than women. These issues inevitably impact on men employed at the University and on the lives of our students."The post and the decision to recognise the Day have prompted anger across faculty and the student body, leading to the publication of the open letter, which can be read below. Signatories include YUSU's LGBTQ Officer and Women's Officer, lecturers from Politics, English, Philosophy, History and Law Departments, and a host of students and alumni.The letter calls phrases in the University's website post "retrograde" and showing "a profound lack of understanding on issues surrounding masculinity". It also highlights that "a day that celebrates men's issues, especially those outlined in the University's statement, does not combat inequality, but merely amplifies existing, structurally imposed, inequalities.""We believe that men's issues cannot be approached in the same way as unfairness and discrimination towards women, because women are structurally unequal to men," the letter goes on. "We recognise that patriarchy is damaging to both men and women, and we are in support of a discussion concerning this, as well as increased attention to specific issues surrounding men's health. We do not, however, believe that the university statement engages with these complex issues with sufficient nuance or understanding."Duncan has responded to the open letter, writing in an email to the signatories that is also published on the University website. He said "I am sorry that this has caused unhappiness for some members of the University community who felt that the statement was inappropriate and should never have been issued. The intention was to draw attention to some of the issues men tell us they encounter and to follow this up by highlighting in particular the availability of mental health and welfare support which we know men are sometimes reluctant to access."The Equality and Diversity Committee is clear that the main focus of gender equality work should continue to be on the inequalities faced by women, and in particular the under representation of women in the professoriate and senior management."We believe that we can make meaningful progress in addressing these issues, while at the same time addressing other aspects of the equality and diversity agenda."We will certainly reflect on the views expressed in the open letter and I expect think twice about marking future Men's Days. We will also consider whether it would be helpful to revise the statement in order to make its core purpose clearer, or perhaps to withdraw it altogether."The original statement on the University's website outlining its commitment to supporting International Men's Day has since been removed, and the above message from Duncan put in its place.Duncan has also since confirmed that the University no longer plans to mark International Men's Day in 2015 and that the focus of the work of the Equality and Diversity Committee will continue to be on the inequalities faced by women.The organisers of the open letter have raised further concerns following the University's stand-down, issuing the following statement to Nouse: "For us, the key questions which the university must answer are: how was the decision to mark International Men's Day reached by the committee? What research was undertaken into IMD and its supporters prior to this decision being taken? And is this a consequence of flaws in the make-up or protocols of the committee?"The issue has already attracted outside attention , in particular from the Director of the Society for Women in Philosphy in the UK, and Sara Ahmed, Professor in Race and Cultural Studies at Goldismith's, University of London.The open letter reads as follows:To the Registrar (Dr. David Duncan) and Dr. Adrian Lee of the Academic Support Office:We the undersigned students, staff and alumni of the University of York are deeply concerned by the University's recent decision to mark International Men's Day. We believe that giving practical application to concepts of equality and diversity should be taken seriously by the university. However, we do not believe that this is furthered by the promotion of International Men's Day in general and are concerned by the particular way in which the university has chosen to do so.According to its official UK website, 'International Men's Day' exists to raise awareness of global issues facing men and boys, and to 'celebrate the contribution that men make.' It does not, however, seek a dialogue on such issues with women's equality campaigns or initiatives. Nor does it acknowledge that the patriarchal structures which underpin society are inimical to both male and female advancement and wellbeing, or that the achievements of men are celebrated and disproportionately highlighted as a matter of course. We believe in a critical approach towards equality and diversity, which seeks to understand the structural causes of disadvantage.We also believe that there is a significant reputational risk to the university in aligning itself with International Men's Day an event which has not been without significant controversy. The homepage of the global website for International Men's Day states: 'The ability to sacrifice your needs on behalf of others is fundamental to manhood, as is honour. Manhood rites of passage the world over recognise the importance of sacrifice in the development of Manhood.' Retrograde statements like this show a profound lack of understanding on issues surrounding masculinity. A day that celebrates men's issues especially those outlined in the University's statement does not combat inequality, but merely amplifies existing, structurally imposed, inequalities.The closing remark 'gender equality is for everyone' echoes misogynistic rhetoric that men's issues have been drowned out by the focus on women's rights. One particularly wrongheaded and offensive assertion is that 'in the professional support services, there are areas where men are significantly underrepresented. Likewise in academic departments, the support staff complement is often heavily weighted towards women, with some departments employing no men at all in these roles.' Though the statement concedes that the 'reasons for these circumstances are complex,' it proposes that they should be addressed 'in the same way that we approach unfairness and discrimination by women.'This misses the crucial point that men's 'underrepresentation' in these areas is a direct consequence of unfairness and discrimination towards women; secretarial and support work are gendered and demeaned as 'women's work,' whereas men dominate senior and better paid roles. The statement is particularly crass in view of the fact that of the twelvestrong university Senior Management Group (SMG), three quarters are male.In recent years, a number of serious issues highlighting women's inequality at the university at all levels have been reported. These include: the lack of female and BME candidates running for YUSU President in the past five years; reports from the YUSU Women's Officer on serious issues surrounding sexual harassment and 'lad culture'; the fact that the majority of executive committee positions in political and careers societies are held by men; and the continuing marginalisation of women in academic roles. Within this context, the Equality and Diversity Committee statement's generalised references to 'raising awareness about and removing barriers for women' fails to acknowledge the full implications of gender bias against women within the institution.We believe that men's issues cannot be approached in the same way as unfairness and discrimination towards women, because women are structurally unequal to men. We recognise that patriarchy is damaging to both men and women, and we are in support of a discussion concerning this, as well as increased attention to specific issues surrounding men's health. We do not, however, believe that the university statement engages with these complex issues with sufficient nuance or understanding. The failure of the Equality and Diversity Committee to do so undermines their selfproclaimed commitment to genderequality, and leaves us deeply concerned that their supposed investment in women's rights is mere lip service.We ask that you provide a full account of the means by which a decision to promote men's issues in this way was reached by the Equality and Diversity Committee. We hope you will take our concerns and criticism with the seriousness they deserve, and look forward to a full response as soon as possible.Yours sincerely,The undersignedFull list of signatories:Sibyl Adam, University of York AlumnaLuis Abolafia Anguita, University of York AlumnusBoriana Alexandrova, Department of English & Related LiteratureHenrice Altink, Head of Department, Department of HistoryJasmine Allen, University of York AlumnaDaniel Ashman, University of York AlumnusCatherine Atkinson, Centre for Women's StudiesDerek Attridge, Professor, Department of English and Related LiteratureGeorge Bancroft, Disabled Students' Convener to Women's and LGBTQ Networks,Department of BiologyPatricia Bartley, Centre for Applied Human RightsHeidi Baseler, Department of PsychologyLynne F Baxter, The York Management SchoolKate Beaumont, University of York AlumnaRachel Bickley, University of York AlumnaElizabeth Biggs, Department of HistoryLaura Blomvall, Department of English and Related LiteratureHannah Boast, Department of English and Related LiteratureEliza Bonello, Department of ChemistryKristin Bourassa, University of York AlumnaChris Bovis, Centre for Medieval StudiesRobin Brabham, Department of ChemistryJude Brereton, Department of ElectronicsEvie Brill Paffard, YUSU LGBTQ officer, Department of English and Related LiteratureThomas Bromwell, Department of History of ArtRachel Brown, Department of PoliticsSydney Calkin, University of York AlumnaClaire Canavan, Department of English and Related LiteratureAnneMarie Canning, President of YUSU 20072008Gina Cardwell, Feminist Society Committee member, Department of PhysicsEmily Casey, University of York AlumnaNina Caspersen, Department of PoliticsSarah Cawthorne, Department of English and Related LiteratureClaire Chambers, Lecturer in Global Literature, Department of English and RelatedLiteratureTingFang Chin, Centre for Women's StudiesJames Clarke, Lecturer, Department of PhilosophySabine Clarke, Lecturer, Department of HistoryEmma Cooper, University of York AlumnaSophie Coulombeau, University of York AlumnaKaty Cubitt, Professor, Department of HistoryRebekah Cumpsty, Department of English and Related LiteratureLucy Davies, University of York AlumnaIrene D'Amico, Professor, Department of PhysicsCallum Delhoy, Liberal Democrats & Amnesty International Society, Department of PoliticsJack Denham, Department of SociologyCaroline Dessent, Senior Lecturer, Department of ChemistryPelin Dincer, Centre for Women's StudiesCarol Dixon, Department of PhilosophyKirstin Donaldson, University of York AlumnaAna Duarte, Centre for Health EconomicsAnais DuongPedica, Department of SociologySerena Dyer, University of York AlumnaJonathan Eato, Department of MusicKatherine Ebury, University of York AlumnaAnna Einarsdottir, Senior Lecturer, The York Management SchoolJanet Eldred, Department of Philosophy, Department of Health SciencesLuke Elliott, LGBTQ Network Secretary, Department of PhysicsKarla K. Evans, Lecturer, Department of PsychologySanna Eriksson, Centre for Applied Human RightsMary Fairclough, Lecturer, English and Related LiteratureJonathan Fanning, Lecturer, The York Management SchoolMyra Faza, Department of ArchaeologySuki Finn, Teaching Fellow, Department of PhilosophyTriona Fitton, University of York AlumnaSarah Fitzmaurice, Feminist Society Secretary, Department of PhysicsGemma Gibson, Centre for Women's StudiesVeronica Gonzalez Temer, Department of Language and Linguistic ScienceErika GrahamGoering, Department of HistoryHannah Greig, Senior Lecturer, Department of HistoryJoanna de Groot, Senior Lecturer, Department of HistoryPat Hadley, Honorary Fellow, Department of ArchaeologyCatherineRose Hailstone, Department of HistoryAlex Hall, Department of PoliticsClaire Harrill, University of York AlumnaAlexander HardieForsyth, Centre for Eighteenth Century StudiesJames Haikney, Department of English and Related LiteratureJames Harland, Department of HistoryKate Harper, Student and Academic ServicesKate Highman, University of York AlumnaDeborah Hines, Language and Linguistic Science.Lucy Hodgetts, Department of English and Related LiteratureEdward Holmes, Department of SociologyDan Howdon, Centre for Health EconomicsCarolyn Hunter, The York Management SchoolKaytlin Hunter, Department of SociologyStevi Jackson, Director, Centre for Women's StudiesSharon Jagger, Centre for Women's StudiesCarla Jardim, Centre for Medieval StudiesHannah Jeans, Department of HistoryElla Jeffries, Department of Language and Linguistic ScienceSam Johnson, University of York AlumnusMartin Jones, Lecturer in International Human Rights Law, Centre for Applied Human RightsPhil Jones, University of York AlumnusAdam Kelly, Lecturer in American Literature, Department of English and Related LiteratureMichelle Kelly, University of York AlumnaCatriona Kennedy, Senior Lecturer, Department of HistoryEmma Kennedy, University of York AlumnaTim Kirk, Department of ChemistryEmmanouela Kritikaki, Centre for Women's StudiesStephanie Lambert, Department of English and Related LiteratureJenna Lang, University of York AlumnaTim Lawrence, Department of English and Related LiteratureJames Lomas, Research Fellow, Centre for Health EconomicsJelena Loncar, Department of PoliticsCatherine Laws, Department of MusicKen Leach, Department of SociologyBarry Lee, Lecturer, Department of PhilosophyMary Leng, Senior Lecturer, Department of PhilosophySam Lindsay, University of York AlumnusNicole Lindstrom, Lecturer, Department of PoliticsBridget Lockyer, University of York AlumnaIzzy Lomas, Feminist Society President, Department of BiologyJelena Loncar, Centre for Women's StudiesGill Loomes, Department of SociologyNicky Losseff, Department of MusicHannah Lyons, University of York AlumnaAntigone MacKenzie, Department of English and Related LiteratureReena Magudia, University of York AlumnaKatrina Maliamauv, Centre for Applied Human RightsNathan Manning, Department of SociologyKatie Markham, University of York AlumnaRoss McIntire, Centre for Medieval StudiesKatherine Mellor, YUSU Women's Officer, Department of Social Policy and Social WorkJohn Mellors, Department of PoliticsJuliana Mensah, Centre for Applied Human RightsJaz Millar, Trans*gender convener for YUSU LGBTQ, Department of BiologyChris Millson, University of York AlumnusEilis Millson University of York AlumnaLeah Mitchell, University of York AlumnaStephanie Monteith, Centre for Medieval StudiesKaren Mumford, Professor, Department of EconomicsAlice Nah, Centre for Applied Human RightsSarah NapoliRangel, Assistant Head of College to GoodrickeKasia Narkowicz, Department of SociologyDustin Neighbors, Department of HistoryRachel Nicholson, University of York AlumnaCatherine Oakley, Department of English and Related LiteratureMegan Ollerhead, Directorate of Estates and Campus ServicesSebastian Owen, English and Related LiteratureIsabel Pearson, Chair Amnesty International Society, Department of PoliticsAdam Perchard, University of York AlumnusJosh Phillips, University of York AlumnusLucy Potter, Department of English and Related LiteratureLaura Price, Department of HistoryBryan Radley, Lecturer, Department of English and Related LiteratureKelly Ramnarine, Department of PsychologyConny Rhode, Department of PhilosophyLouise Richardson, Lecturer, Department of PhilosophyNiamh Richardson, Department of Medieval StudiesDuncan Robertson, Department of English and Related LiteratureTim Rowbotham, Department of English and Related Literature and Centre for MedievalLiteratureXander Ryan, University of York AlumnusMadelaine Schurch, Department of English and Related LiteratureRuth Scobie, University of York AlumnaBrittany Scowcroft, Centre for Medieval Studies & History of ArtCristina Sechel, Department of Economics and Related StudiesMunzar Sharif, University of York AlumnusChristine Skinner, Reader in Social Policy, Department of Social Policy and Social WorkClaire Smith, Lecturer, Department of PoliticsPeter Smith, Professor, Department of EconomicsRosie Smith, Department of SociologyCatherine Spencer, University of York AlumnaElizabeth Spencer, Department of HistoryHolly Steel, Department of SociologyGermaine Stockbridge, Department of SociologyTom Stoneham, Professor, Department of PhilosophyDillon Struwig, Department of English and Related LiteratureAlly Swadling, University of York AlumnaVanita Sundaram, Senior Lecturer, Department of EducationElizabeth Swann, University of York AlumnaAbigail Tazzyman, University of York AlumnaAli Thompson, Department of Natural SciencesAmy Tobin, Department of History of ArtVikki Touzel, University of York AlumnaEvangeline Tsao, Centre for Women's StudiesGiacomo Valeri, Department of EnglishPaul Walton, Department of ChemistrySethina Watson, Senior Lecturer, Department of HistorySophie Weeks, Lecturer, Department of HistoryJoanna Wharton, University of York AlumnaGregory White, Department of Social Policy and Social WorkRuth Whyte, University of York AlumnaJenny Wilkes, Department of English and Related LiteratureJames Williams, Lecturer, Department of English and Related LiteratureMary Elizabeth Wilson, Centre for Medieval StudiesTim Wingard, University of York AlumnusAdam Winstanley, Department of English and Related LiteratureNick Wolterman, Department of English and Related LiteratureRebecca Woods, Department of Language and Linguistic ScienceEmma Woolfrey, Department of History of ArtBeth Yarwood Smith, University of York AlumnaHelen YetterChappell, Lecturer, Department of PhilosophyAnanna Zaman, YUSU Women's Officer, Department of Social Policy and Social Work