Northallerton student's equality call

**frostyboy** · 18th-August-2009

From the Northern Echo:

Northallerton student's equality call

A TEENAGE student has called on the Government to appoint a minister for men, claiming the lack of such a politician is detrimental to equality.

Reece Wilkes, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, is lobbying Harriet Harman, in her position as minister for women.

The 16-year-old, who is preparing to sit his GCSEs at Northallerton College, argues that a range of inequalities affect the modern man.

In his letter to Ms Harman, he points out that the Government has ministers for women, children and animals in its cabinet, but not men.

He writes: "Each year, nearly 35, 000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 10,000 men die from the disease.

"It is obvious that not enough funding is put into this nor not enough publicity, in contrast to breast cancer.

"This, surely, is evidence that a minister for men is much needed. "I could go on and on about the inequalities and injustices affecting men/boys in our ‘modern society’, however, if I did, I would be writing for hours."

Reece was keen to stress that he is in favour of equality for both men and women.

He has yet to receive a response from Harriet Harman.

Kudos to this chap - especially for achieving newspaper coverage.

**Celtic Druid** · 18th-August-2009

Reece Wilkes, from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, is lobbying Harriet Harman, in her position as minister for women.

This young man means well and is to be admired for his activism, but he's got a lot to learn about Harriet Harman. He's confused her with someone who gives a fuck about men's concerns.

**Daveyone** · 18th-August-2009

I see your point but will say cancer is perhaps not the best way to focus inequality Whilst it is accepted that Breast Cancer has had the most R&D costs afforded to it and as a result it is the easiest form of cancer to cure (as always provided it is diagnosed soon enough) Cancer has no quarms in more agressive forms to attack children, men or women and there has to be a call for more R&D across the board but more over better training to GPs and support nurses to be able to diagnose symptoms easiers and quicker this is the key to succesfull treatment (which is another nightmare on top of the horrors of knowing you have the disesse) Interesting piece however I would call on a ban to ever mention Harriet Harman's name again treat it as a swear word thus;
******* ****** much better!

**johnkimble1** · 26th-August-2009

I disagree with the Davy on the cancer thing. There really is an insane amount of focus on breast cancer at the expense of all cancers. Of coruse not just men's cancers, but it's clear the most neglect sort is prostate cancer.

Few people even realise that prostate cancer and breast cancer affect a similar number of people.

The real proof of sexism in cancer is in the fund raising itself. The biggest publicity and fundraising event by far in teh Uk is the Race for Life. It dwarfs everything else and Cancer Research put an endless amount of effort into promoting and growing it and everytihn else they do is very much an afterthought.

It is THE cancer event of the year, every year in countless towns and cities all across the country, and of course all men are banned from taking part.