Oregon daily emerald., March 28, 1978, Page 8, Image 8

Men’s group explores feelings, issues
By ANN TRENEMAN
Of the Emerald
"What exactly is a men's a
wareness group?"
The four men sitting around the
room looked at each other and
laughed.
"We ll probably all have a dif
ferent answer for that question,'
Michael Pitrone, a member of a
newly formed men s awareness
group, said.
"The group is a real non
threatening place and a real help
ful place," James Lanz, another
group member said.
"In the group someone might
point out something I said was
sexist and since it’s a supportive
place, I might be able to say, Well,
what do you mean by sexist?’
"Maybe in another situation in
volving a woman very aware of
sex roles, who might come out
and attack me, I’d feel threatened.
Being attacked is not going to
make me change,” Lanz added.
"People come to the group with
different ideas: political reasons,
fighting sexism and support for
changes...'' Pitrone said.
The men's group, formed about
seven weeks ago, has about 10
members, ages 20-30, involved in
all sorts of occupations ranging
from teacher to nurse to “bum."
"We talk about problems, is
sues and feelings,” Bob Reuter,
another group member said.
Lanz was quick to point out, “It
doesn't have to be a problem to be
discussed. At the beginning of the
group last week we went around
and asked How was your week?’’
Issues the men in the group de
cided were important to discuss
are dependency, sex roles,
strokes, homosexuality and
parent-child relationships.
“Sexism causes men to sepa
rate from one another,' Pitrone
said. “It’s pretty unusual for men
to have a best friend.
"Men s support gives me sup
port to step out of the roles — to
hug men etc.,” Matthew Rainbow,
1
iiliii
Page 8
another group member, added.
James Reuter, a social worker
at the Family Shelter House,
thinks "It’s extremely important for
men to start to talk to men and to
be able to talk to someone who is
able to understand what they’re
saying."
Reuter works with wife-beaters,
and he said, “Just communicating
has a very good potential in solv
ing some of the problems in sex
ism and aggression."
The group helps men to voice
their feelings on homosexuality.
Reuter said, "It was real
threatening to me at first to touch
other men. We re taught to hate
and fear homosexuality. You have
to deal with those fears.”
When asked what changes
have occured in their lives since
joining the group, Reuter said,
Since I've started going to men s
groups I’ve gone through many
changes in every part of my life.
The group has been real suppor
tive.”
"I don’t feel like I’m doing every
thing by myself,” Pitrone said.
“The group is providing me with
a whole nucleus of friends,” Lanz
said. Lanz just moved to Eugene
from Ann Arbor, Mich, and feels
Eugene is a “pretty unfriendly
town.”
N*
The members all think the
men's awareness movement is
expanding.
"I think there is a growing idea
of consciousness along with the
growing men’s movement," Reu
ter said.
When asked how the men’s
movement compares with the
women’s movement, Rainbow
answered, “The men’s movement
seems to have less extremism,
There’s not as much anger in
men, so there's not as much need
to be extreme.”
“I think the more men try to be
come liberated the more they are
becoming conscious of the ways
in which they oppress women,” he
added.
Lanz said he thinks a lot of men
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feel guilty concerning women.
“A lot of attitudes are Oh, we’re
such shits because we oppress
women,’ I think we re all real
beautiful people. A lot of shit has
been laid on us that we weren't
aware of and we re starting to be
come aware of it.”
Lanz, a nurse, says he felt very
uncomfortable with his profession
at first, but now,“I’m feeling better
about it.”
Although the group itself has
taken no political stand, some of
the members are actively involved
in support of the local gay rights
issue.
When asked if the men's
movement is ridden with the
splits present in the women's
movement, Pitrone said there is a
split in the men's movement be
tween Marxist and capitalist
oriented men. The gay movement
is another section of the men’s
movement, although they're
linked, he said.
“There are a lot of men out there
who are feeling the same things
We hope some respond and
check it out,” Reuter said when
asked how he thought the group
will fare in Eugene.
Anyone interested in joining the
group can call 342-2841.
PSYCHIC
Advises on bus ness.
love & personal direction
Jamil
P.O Box 10154
Eugene, Oregon 97401
Phone anytime:
342 2210 484 2441
Tuesday, March 28, 1978