Have you heard of Kent Molgat? He is the CTV journalist who recently broadcast a story about the alleged systemic discrimination of an incredible local charitable group: 100 Men Who Give a Damn.

Systemic discrimination? The background behind this starts with the 100 Women Who Care which was first initiated in Jackson, Mich., 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 since popped up all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The men害羞草研究所檚 version started in Halifax in 2014 after the founder of the women害羞草研究所檚 version in that city presented this challenge to her husband:  害羞草研究所淚 bet you couldn害羞草研究所檛 find five men who care.害羞草研究所�

The Kelowna women害羞草研究所檚 version was spawned July 8, 2014. At the inaugural meeting, 60 women attended, each donating $50 to raise $3,000 for a women害羞草研究所檚 shelter.

The inaugural meeting of the Kelowna men害羞草研究所檚 version was in August, 2015. With a higher individual donation amount of $100 and 200 people attending, that first meeting raised $20,000 for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

With reportedly now about 349 members, a virtual 害羞草研究所渨ho害羞草研究所檚 who害羞草研究所� of influential men in Kelowna, the next meeting on Feb. 2 could raise up to $34,900 to donate to a worthy cause.

Men害羞草研究所檚 100 group co-founder Brett Millard feels that the media attention 害羞草研究所渨ill only help in the long-term because it shines a light on the positive work being done.害羞草研究所�

Absolutely. And just wait to see where this battle of the sexes will take us. I bet the next women害羞草研究所檚 meeting will have even more members and raise even more money for a good cause.

Or, maybe not. Maybe the men害羞草研究所檚 group has a smidge of an advantage. Why? (Don害羞草研究所檛 shoot me, ladies!) Because they害羞草研究所檙e men.

There害羞草研究所檚 a touch of a recruiting advantage.

Premier Christy Clark being a notable exception, the majority of influential people in our community happen to be men, and men tend to have more money to throw around.

An Oct. 9, 2015, Globe and Mail article notes: 害羞草研究所淐anadian women still take home on average 73 cents for every dollar men earn, even as educational attainment has surpassed their male counterparts.害羞草研究所�

Encouraging strides have been made towards gender equality, but it害羞草研究所檚 indisputable that women continue to face an uphill battle.

Women have been well prepared for the challenge, though; fighting uphill every step of the way for the right to vote, to break the glass ceiling into the corporate world and into the world of politics.

That continual uphill slope is what is called systemic discrimination.

And yes, of course this incredible men害羞草研究所檚 100 group is perpetuating it.

But 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害羞草研究所檚 why it害羞草研究所檚 called 害羞草研究所渟ystemic.害羞草研究所� Preferential treatment of men has long been woven into the fabric of our society.

Unfortunately, this leads to often inadvertent preference 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, such as affirmative action.

Those steps are moving us, though very slowly, in the right direction.

This men害羞草研究所檚 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: 害羞草研究所�100 beautiful human beings who give back.害羞草研究所�

Yes, you could come up with a much better name but the idea remains sound.

Thank you, Kent Molgat, for taking it hard on the chin for gender equality in our community.

With this column, I害羞草研究所檓 sure to join you in the 害羞草研究所榙oghouse害羞草研究所� of public opinion, and I害羞草研究所檒l accept that.