Feminist group wields hammer against men during event at UNH

The event's name sounded like something straight out of the defunct World Wrestling Federation: "Patriarchy Slam." However, had any of the WWF's male stars shown up, they would likely have found themselves hammered to the mat.

Sponsored by the Feminist Action League (FAL), "Patriarchy Slam" stormed onto the campus of the University of New Hampshire last spring heralded by flyers depicting a woman grasping a hammer emblazoned with "FEMINISM" on the handle.

An accompanying female symbol was adorned with clenched fists and the ad’s copy read: "If I had a hammer…I’d SMASH Patriarchy." A comic book bubble by the woman’s face said, "I FOUND IT!"

Indeed.

What "Patriarchy Slam" lacked in subtlety and decorum, it more than made up for in sheer venom.

According to a report filed by the school’s newspaper, some 40 women attended the event which was officially aimed at providing a platform for women who had been abused and otherwise oppressed by men. However, the event turned into an open forum for virulent male-bashing.

UNH’s newspaper reported that "Patriarchy Slam" included poetry readings, skits, and monologues against men. One woman read a saucy poem in which she articulated the depth of pride she takes in hating men.

Other word creations alluded to castration and many participants wore scissors around their necks—an obvious ode to the carrying out of the procedure. At one point the audience lifted up their voices and sang in unison "lightheartedly about castration," the newspaper reported.

FAL’s hatred for what it termed a "male-ruled society" was colorfully affirmed with 10 hanging balloons each adorned with one letter of the word "patriarchy." The balloons were popped one at a time throughout the evening to symbolize the eradication of "male patriarchy."

Not everyone in attendance affirmed FAL’s fowl message. David Huffman, a contributor for the university’s conservative publication was the only person to be ejected from the event. FAL henchwomen gave him the heave-ho during an open microphone session.

Huffman told the campus newspaper that he arrived at the meeting hoping to learn more about the genuine problem of female abuse, but left deeply disturbed by the poisonous rhetoric of "Patriarchy Slam."

"It was advertised as a public event, nowhere did the posters say 'Women Only,'" Huffman said. "They excluded me from a public event based upon my gender. There were a few other men there who were allowed to stay, but I was singled out in particular.

"[This] was an evening of man hating. This is no different than any other extremist organization that...promotes stereotypes…How is this any different than hating African-Americans or Jews? What I heard last night was not feminism; it was a hate rally."