Save the Males

Men’s Movement History The legitimate men’s/fathers’ movement grew from early efforts at divorce reform. While early fathers groups organized in opposition to mistreatment in divorce, several activists came to recognize divorce discrimination as part of a broader pattern of discrimination against men per-se. Nevertheless, the movement’s largest constituency remains in the divorce and fathers’ rights field. In America, organized reform began in the 1800s with small groups scattered about. The National Sociological League was perhaps the earliest large organization. In 1931 its Executive Director, Dr. Alexander Dallek, claimed 25,000 members, from every state in the union. They attacked shotgun marriages and unreasonable child support. In 1932 an organization called The Family Protection League lobbied state legislatures. No details of its demise are recorded. In 1960 Reuben Kidd and George Partis formed “Divorce Racket Busters” in Sacramento, California. After coming to national prominence in 1961, the name changed to United States Divorce Reform Inc. (U.S.D.R.). Its Board of Directors was Reuben Kidd, George Partis, Jay Burchett, Dr. Winterfield, and John Cooper. By 1963 USDR’s active membership roster had grown to 2,000 members. USDR’s prime focus was modernization of California state divorce laws by replacing divorce courts with “Family Arbitration Centers.” The effort was entitled the “Sitton-Winterfield Initiative.” It never obtained the necessary signatures to qualify on the ballot for the November 1966 elections. Although the concentration on California’s laws may have been practical, a “shake-down cruise” to prepare for taking on all state’s laws, non-Californians became restless, and began falling away. Parochial interests developed. Themselves seemingly afflicted with the divorce syndrome, various factions began feuding and broke off to form their own splinter groups. Separate organizations sprung up around the country. There are now several hundred, with varying degrees of legitimacy. Most are mere mutual commiseration societies, without strong leadership. In 1970, in an effort to unify these discordant elements and groups, Richard Doyle formed CADRE (Coalition of American Divorce Reform Elements). Beginning February 13, 1971, three incorporation conventions were held in the Elgin, Illinois area, attended by heads of most divorce reform organizations in the country. Divisive elements immobilized the project, causing its demise. Some of the more cooperative leaders tried again in early 1977. That effort was called Men’s Equality Now (M.E.N.) International. It is presently inactive. Subsequently, a veritable alphabet soup of rival "coalitions" formed and largely died out. Currently, no umbrella coalition exists.