Re Laura Bates’s article (There is no ‘war on men’ – we now know feminism is good for boys, theguardian.com, 8 November), I once had a boss whose Christmas gift was a novel chosen by his wife for each member of staff based on how he had described them to her. According to the back-page blurb, mine was about a man-hating lesbian feminist. As the mother of three sons, I was sickened by this simplistic portrayal. The novel went in the fire when I got home.
If letting your sons cry, dress up without comment, choose toys from any aisle of the toy shop, learn to cook, clean, sew on their own buttons, and speak to women with respect is hating them, then I’m guilty. Their three wives appreciate these loving life partners, who support them in their careers and take an equal share of the parenting. They still get passionate about football and enjoy a pint with their mates. Both sets of behaviours in the same person are possible.
