The inclusive vision of gender equality
By Paul Shaner
In 1995 several Men's Rights Advocates gathered in Seattle to form the only American chapter of the now-defunct equal rights organization, Movement for the Establishment of Real Gender Equality, or MERGE. The organization's magazine was called Balance.
Balance
1995 Bothell, WA - For much of the past decade, Ferrel Christensen's vision of gender relations has been expressed in the MERGE Journal, public forums in Edmonton and various papers and books he has written and sponsored.
Christensen has a virtually unique ability to examine an issue from both the male and female perspective. While he may sometimes seem biased to extremists on either side, he is dedicated to bringing men and women to communicate and work together.
Now he has achieved one of his major goals: the newsletter MERGE has become the magazine Balance. It is well-designed and printed with a glossy cover and well-done graphics. At last the gender-equality movement (for we can't call this a men's movement magazine though it is sympathetic to men) has a true magazine.
Balance is hard-hitting and a good read for either sex concerned about gender issues. And best of all for men, you can leave it out on your coffee table without having to apologize or explain its presence. It is intense, but not angry; attacking, but not unfair.
Emphasis is on research into the background of the topic, rather than a cursory overview or opinion piece. It is heavily weighted with Canadian authors, but the editor is receptive to well-written pieces from anywhere.
A subscription to Balance costs $10 a year, American. Send your check to: Balance #366, 9768 170th St. Edmonton, Alberta T5T 5L4, Canada.
Note: The organization is now defunct and the magazine is out of print.
