Jacob Charles, a senior Intelligence and National Security major, is an active male feminist at Point Park. In a recent article for The Odyssey at Point Park, Jake wrote an open letter to his fellow men on the importance of their support in putting an end to sexual violence toward women.
HC: When did you realize that you were a feminist?:
“When I look back on my life, I think I realized I was a feminist before I even really knew what feminism was. I have always hated gender bias. My grandparents were extremely traditional and I never really understood that. I think the first time I really knew was in the 5th grade, when a really talented female Soccer player in my grade started playing in the Boys’ league because she wanted a better challenge. Most of the boys made fun of her. I always supported her choice. Plus, she kicked our butts.”
HC: Who is your biggest female inspiration?
“I have so many! I would say most recent inspiration is Amy Poehler. In 2013, after her and Tina Fey kicked butt at the Oscars following the misogynist debacle that was Seth McFarlane. I knew that the feminist movement was finally gaining some much-needed support.”
HC: As a man, do you find you are ridiculed for your choice to support your female friends?
“Absolutely I do. I grew up in a small hick town where everything is still backwards, so anytime I would call someone out for being stuck in the 1950s I caught backlash. I get ridicule from both sides, though. Many women who misunderstand what feminism is really about give me a hard time for claiming to be a feminist.”
HC: I feel like men that identify as feminists are often ridiculed for just trying to “get some.” How do you combat this stigma?
“It’s honestly true. People who know me personally know that I am not that kind of person at all. But unfortunately, so many guys still are and it’s not easy for men to breach that stigma. I just let my actions speak for themselves and anyone who doubts that I am genuinely trying to support equality in all forms should remember what feminism is about. By not letting men have the chance to speak out and support women in their movement is taking steps backward, not forward.”
HC: What was the inspiration behind your Odyssey Article “Putting An End to Sexual Violence?”
“There are several reasons I wrote this article. First, because I have met so many women who have suffered from sexual violence in some form. 1-in-5 women in college will be a victim of that at some point, unfortunately. Second, I have witnessed it first hand on many occasions, too. I watched a guy grab some girl’s butt in South Side a couple of months ago – right there on the street. He and his friends laughed about it. She just kept walking – I don’t blame her. When I passed the guys I stopped and said something. It didn’t turn out very well for me, but I honestly couldn’t have lived with myself after watching that happen. Third, because most of these articles are written by females, I feel like men just don’t take them seriously. It’s sad, but that’s the unfortunate circumstance of our society. I wrote it specifically directed at men, because if we don’t stop it ourselves, it will never end.
HC: In your article you share your address your fellow men and ask that they not be silent anymore. How can or have you and your peers help end sexual abuse?
“It’s as easy as speaking up. It’s time for more men to stand up. So many men claim to be so ‘macho’ but yet they can’t go out of their way to confront someone who is doing something so morally terrible to a woman. If people knew someone would stop them on the street and tell them that it’s not ok to catcall or sexually assault a woman, it simply wouldn’t happen as much as it does.
HC: Do you plan to continue writing about social issues relating to feminism, sexual violence awareness, or anything else relating to those topics?
“I do. I am working on a book about it, actually, so I plan to put bits and pieces of my work into articles as I go. It’s one of the most important battles within the many social issues in our world, and the only way it will end is if enough people stand up and fight for it.”