Sir, - It seems that John Waters is incapable of promoting men's issues without having a swipe at women. His usual procedure is to compare the treatment received by men with that received by women in areas of public services. The issues he has alluded to are quite diverse, including:
the more favourable treatment by the courts of women seeking custody of children;
the greater emphasis and on women's health, such as screening for breast cancer in comparison with prostate cancer; and
the greater incidence of suicide among men, which Mr Waters sees as evidence of men's social alienation. The implication is that women are responsible because the great curse of feminism has led to the obsolescence of traditional male roles.
The irony is that men, not women, have been responsible for the situations he outlines.
For example, the reason that women are more likely than men to get custody of children is that caring for children was traditionally seen as inhibiting success in life. Therefore the legal system which has, to a very great extent, been administered by males, favoured the awarding of custody of children to women.
It is only in recent times that men have come to appreciate and actively participate in family life. Now that they are more appreciative of their children and the joys of family life, I am very sure that the still male-dominated judicial system will rise to the occasion and see that male interests are well served in the future.
In the area of health, women have fought a long battle for the resources now available for services such as breast cancer screening. Men would be well advised to take a leaf out of women's book in order to achieve similar services instead of whinging that men lag behind women in health expenditure.
Without exception, studies worldwide have shown a greater incidence of depression among women rather than men. However, women tend to cope better with depression and to find life-enhancing ways of dealing with it rather than taking their lives. Suicide is, in essence, a cop-out and men are more likely to resort to that extreme measure than women.
Generally, I believe that women have a healthier attitude to life and recognise the elements that are important. This realisation leads to certain life choices which contributes to their enjoying an extra six-year life expectancy over men. - Yours, etc.,
Pamela Conroy, Richmond Court, Dartry, Dublin 6.