Last week, Beloit Daily News published a letter to the editor titled “There has been a war on men.”

The writer, Don Hilbig, shared his thoughts on the current nature of the feminist movement — which he referred to as a “rebellion” — stating what a major influence women have on society nowadays.

Women’s lack of need for men, according to Hilbig, has made men increasingly angry and, overall, has made for a confused and hostile atmosphere.

“Clearly men and fathers have been denigrated and relegated to a marginal and secondary status,” Hilbig wrote.

He said the sexes aren’t equal, because women’s health facilities exist and that since women are so heavily impacting society, men have taken on the secondary status.

In response to this letter, The Spectator Editorial Board deliberated the question “Is this movement a war on men?”

One speaker said it is a war on men, stating men as a whole deserve it.

Another member said Hilbig dislikes that women want to be treated equally.

“He sees that as an attack on his entire gender, which is just asinine,” they said. “… Everything about it (the letter) is ridiculous.”  

This may be a war on men, one speaker said, but not in the way Hilbig said he thinks.

“Women are just fighting to be seen more as human and not objects,” they said. “… It’s not a ‘special agenda.’”

One speaker said Hilbig’s view of feminism is skewed, rather than knowing it’s meant for equality.

Another member said they thought Hilbig’s arguments were flawed and lacking data or facts, especially since some of his points were no fault of women or the women’s movement.

“Maybe there should be a war on Don because this man has no idea what he’s talking about,” the speaker said. “… Maybe they (men) need to be in that secondary status to get a grip on reality.”

There’s also the possibility of this movement not being a war on men, but instead “a war on the status quo” or potentially the patriarchy, one speaker said.

Hilbig’s “own facts” shouldn’t be used to declare a war, another speaker said.

“I just don’t get why these things are being considered a war,” they said. “What, because they earned these spots and now it’s unfair? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

The Spectator Editorial Board voted 4-3-1, with four voting to say the movement is a war against men, three voting to say it isn’t and one member choosing to abstain from voting.