i ;
| amine their attitudes. i

Males must stop **
relying on women >

By PHIL HANSON

Marriage is a mechanism to get state ap-
proval for a couple to live together, says
one of Vancouver's better-known men’s li-
berationists.

“T personally feel there is no need for |

marriage in this society, especially as the
population is rising rapidly, so there is no
great need to have children any more,”
says Dr. Len Millis, a biologist at Douglas
College.

Millis’ views, as controversial as the
whole subject of men’s liberation, might
not win instant acceptability but he notes
that ‘‘a lot of people are anticipating social
change of this kind; it’s not new to a lot of
people.”

Hot on the heels of International Wom-
en’s Year and the women’s liberation

_ movement comes men’s lib.

_ Women's liberation also implies men’s
liberation, says Millis. But more recently
attention has been focussed on the particu-

lar problems of men and their relationships |

to female chauvinists.

: .

A liberated male, says Millis, is a man
who can take care of his own needs without
having to rely on a woman, which is what
happens in most marriages and will happen
as long as men believe their role in life is to
marry, settle down and raise a family in
the suburbs.

“T see real problems in marriage,” says
Millis, who 1% years ago was involved with
probably the first major men’s lib discus-
sion program in the Lower Mainland.

“T say we shouldn’t have marriage where
the husband and wife are dependent on one
another.

“The men depend on the female for food,
clothing and so on as well as their emotion-
al needs and both parties are deprived of
important opportunities to express their in-
dependence.”

Millis makes a strong plea for men and
women to develop their own independence
— a re-defining of their roles. That’s noth-
ing new for women’s lib advocates but it’s a
radical point of view for many men who
have never even considered the need to ex-

“Developing independence does a lot for
people,” argues Millis. ‘‘There are a lot of
tragic relationships among married people.
We are seeing increasing numbers of sep-
arations and divorces, partly the result of
people being too dependent and unable to
pursue their own goals.

“The marriage institution is not neces-
sary at all, it’s disadvantageous.”

Millis also disagrees with people who be-
lieve they should be married if they. are
going to have children.

_ “That attitude is unrealistic,” he says,
flatly. ‘There are a lot more single parents

| than ever before and there is a lot of evi-
dence the children are doing well.

| “People overstate the problems of chil-
dren of single parents, There is much less
social stigma attactied than in older
times.” :
If children come along, in or out of wed-
lock, Millis advocates equal responsibility
| for their upbringing.

 

But having already noted his views abou
the need for children it’s not surprising he
prefaces these remarks with a plug for
male sterility (‘One of the best, but least-
used methods of birth control’).

“When I mean equal responsibility I
mean not just taking care of the baby, but
equal financial responsibility, too.

“Men can be just as good at raising chil-
dren as women.”

Millis says that married couples who are
interested in following the philosophy of in-
dependence might have serious problems
putting it into practice.

There are definite advantages to being
single when you decide to liberate your
mind. .

“It’s difficult to say how married couples
should go about finding this independence
I’ve been talking about,” admits Millis.

“A good start would be to discuss the ad-
vantages and disadvantages. Get it out in
the open and get each other's feelings.

“Often couples will find that they really
did want more independence.

“Yes, discussion is the most important
starting point.

“Then they have to start asserting their
independence.”

Ideally, he says, the declaration of inde-
pendence should be mutually agreed upon
but often a partner is pressured to assert
independence ‘“‘if there is a strong enough
need.”

Now, if you tell your wife you’re going off
alone on a vacation to Acapulco, or that
you're quitting work to do pottery the reac-
tion just might be less than enthusiastic.
Don’t despair.

“Often the assertiveness has a positive
effect,” counsels Millis. One partner will
appreciate the independence seen in the
other and what seemed to be a threat to the
relationship is often.a boost.”

Millis has become well-known as a men’s
libber and is often called on to speak to
groups.

By his own description he is “heavily in-
volved.”’

“1 don’t consider myself. an expert,” he
says, “I'm strictly a biologist and most of
the interest I have in the matter is from a
personal point of view.

“Many of my beliefs spring from feelings
I’ve had for many years, some since I was
very young.

‘A Jot of it has been clarified by becom-
ing involved in these recent discussions.

“T have found these to be very useful for
myself.”