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The-Last-Word

100 Men vs 100 Women

Have you heard of Kent Molgat?

He is the CTV journalist whose “manufactured bit of misreporting” in an “attempt to rake up controversy” (source: Kelowna Daily Courier), alleged the systemic discrimination of an incredible, local, charitable group: 100 Men Who Give a Damn.

Systemic discrimination?? ‘100 Women Who Care’ came first, after all - initiated in Jackson, Michigan, in 2008. The first one-hour meeting of that group raised $10,000 to buy 300 new baby cribs for an organization in their city.  Sister chapters have popped up all over the US, Canada, and into Mexico. 

The men’s version started in Halifax in 2014 (go Canada!) after the founder of the women’s version in that city challenged her husband, “Bet you couldn’t find five men who care.”

The women’s version was spawned in Kelowna in 2014, with its inaugural meeting on July 8, 2014. Each of the 60 women brought $50, resulting in $3,000 raised for the women’s shelter.  

The inaugural meeting of the men’s version came a year later, in August, 2015, though it was stepped up a notch. With a higher individual donation amount of $100 and 200 members, they raised $20,000 for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Notch and a half! Reportedly with 349 members as of this past week, including the who’s who of influential men in Kelowna, the next meeting on February 2nd will do at least $34,900 of good for another worthy charity in our community.

What a tremendous outcome of a little competition between the sexes.

Co-founder Brett Millard feels that this media attention “will only help 100 Men in the long term, because it shines a light on the positive work it does.” Absolutely. And just wait and see where this battle of the sexes will take us. I’ll bet the next women’s meeting will have even more members, and will raise even more money for a good cause.

Or, maybe not. 

Maybe the men’s group has a smidgen of an advantage. Why? Don’t shoot me, ladies . . . because they’re men. 

There’s a touch of a recruiting advantage, for example. Premier Christy Clark is a notable exception, but the majority of influential people in our community happen to be men. The mayor and Members of Parliament are just three examples.

Another advantage? Men are likely to have more money to throw around. A Globe and Mail article on October 9, 2015 noted that “Canadian women still take home, on average, 73 cents for every dollar men earn, even as educational attainment has surpassed their male counterparts.”

Encouraging strides have been made towards gender equality, but it’s indisputable that women continue to face an uphill battle. They’re well-prepared for the challenge, though - they’ve been fighting uphill every step of the way, from fighting for the right to vote, breaking into the corporate world, and yes, political representation as well.

That continual uphill slope is something called systemic discrimination. And yes, of course, this incredible men’s group is perpetuating it.

I feel certain that every one of the men who are throwing $100 on the barrel for charity every three months is doing so out of the altruistic motivation of doing good for our community. I am willing to bet, and bet big, that not one of them is intending to perpetuate the systemic discrimination of women. 

That’s why it’s called ‘systemic’. Preferential treatment of men has long been woven into the fabric of our society, which, unfortunately, leads to often inadvertent preferences and entitlement that can be addressed only if it is recognized for what it is. 

We learned decades ago that we need to take active steps to counter it, through affirmative action.  Those steps are moving us, though very slowly, in the right direction. This men’s group, as well-meaning as it is, takes us a step backwards.

Do we throw the baby out with the bath water? 

Hell no! How about a gender-inclusive group: ‘100 beautiful human beings who give back’?  Yes, I know, you can come up with a much better name.

Thank you, Kent Molgat, for taking it on the chin, and hard, for gender equality in our community. With this column, I’m sure to join you in the dog house of public opinion. I’ll accept that.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

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About the Author

Lawyer Paul Hergott began writing as a columnist in January 2007. 

Achieving Justice, based on Paul’s personal injury practice at the time, focused on injury claims and road safety.  It was published weekly for 13½ years until July 2020, when his busy legal practice no longer left time for writing.

Paul was able to pick up writing again in January 2024. After transitioning his practice to estate administration and management.

Paul’s intention is to write primarily about end of life and estate related matters, but he is very easily distracted by other topics.

You are encouraged to contact Paul directly at [email protected] with legal questions and issues you would like him to write about.



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The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet does not warrant the contents.

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