In response to the editorial, “‘Male studies’ deserves place in curriculum,”I believe this article brings up some great issues. The definition of oppression from Merriam Webster stuck me particularly: “the unjust or cruel exercise of authority or power.”

Well, for those familiar with patriarchy, we recognize that definition in our social institutions, where men generally hold the power.

— More than 80 percent of the U.S. Senate is male.

— 83 percent of the U.S. House of Representatives is male.

— Iowa has never had a female governor or member of the U.S. congressional delegation.

— Women earn, on a national average, $0.76 to a man’s dollar, less in Iowa.

— In Fortune 500 companies, only a handful of women are CEOs.

— The United States has never had a female president.

These are just a few examples. The big points that I found interesting in Wednesday’s editorial were the multiple mentions of males getting expelled from school or incarcerated in high numbers compared to females.

As a male women’s studies major, I can tell you that we talk about men in society at great length in women’s studies classes. Personally, I believe the name should be changed to “gender studies,” as we can’t talk about women without talking about men, and the scope of courses has reached well-beyond just women’s equity.

Why are men more likely to be arrested for committing violent crimes? Why are we more aggressive? I challenge you to look at your own childhood.

Boys played in forts with toy guns and GI Joes, wrestling with each other. What do we hear when boys fight? “Boys will be boys.” Think also about the names young boys were called when they participated in something typically “feminine,” like playing house with the girls or wanting to play with dolls. Not kind or flattering names, at all.

If you weren’t one of the typical boys, you were outcast and called a sissy, a wimp or maybe even a fag. You didn’t live up to the expectations of a “real” boy, so you were labeled something different.

This brings into question for me, what is a “real” boy or a “real” man? Must a male be aggressive and tough? Must we be competitive at every turn? Should we try to “get some” every weekend at the bar? These are the messages males of all ages receive from family, friends and the media. I believe the messages in our society put both men and women in a narrow box, thus causing the negative trends on males mentioned in Wednesday’s editorial.

When our culture tells men they are supposed to be strong, masculine leaders who never show emotion, we are bound to have a culture of men who, instead of talking out conflict, use their fists. When young men in school are looked down upon for studying and keeping their nose in the books rather than partying or trying out for sports, we are bound to have fewer men continuing education. This is why more men are in prison and fewer men are in college in the United States. Think of the possibilities if our society let men and women follow their passions without the risk of ridiculing them for stepping outside their gender roles.

I have to say that the Iowa State Daily Editorial Board brought up interesting points; however, saying that we need to create a division focused on the betterment of men on campus and in society is flawed. I believe we need to continue working to look at breaking down gender norms and say we will not be bound by what generations before us believed. We can think for ourselves and we must.

Interestingly, the women’s rights movement and the proposed male studies movement have one thing in common: Men are going to have to review their own oppressive actions and start changing the culture as a whole. We, as men, are our own worst enemy when looking at why there are higher imprisonment rates and lower education rates. If we men want to see this changed, we have the opportunity, and I would argue responsibility, to work together and embrace diversity of masculinity.

To anyone who wants a male studies program, become a women’s studies major or minor. The name is out of date, but the mission is to level the playing field for both men and women, regardless of class, race, sexuality and religion. It is a wonderful program in which I am proud to be a part.

Jacob Wilson is a Junior in Political Science and Women’s Studies and a GSB Senator