SJ Magazine Cancels All Male "Women's Empowerment" Panel

What do men think about women in business? The world may never know. Maple Shade based SJ Magazine’s scheduled “Women’s Empowerment” panel that was scheduled for Nov. 6 has been canceled, the magazine announced on Monday. The panel had come under criticism for its all male makeup.

“As a women-owned business, women’s empowerment has always been part of our mission statement,” SJ Magazine said in the announcement. “We believe it is helpful when everyone is part of the conversation on women’s empowerment and feminism. It was never our intention to offend anyone.”

A flyer for the event posted online depicts an all-male panel that includes Sal Paolantonio of ESPN; New Jersey Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald; Rowan University President Dr. Ali Houshmand; and Virtua President/CEO Richard P. Miller. However, Greenwald pulled out of the event before it was canceled.

“I was asked to participate on a panel for an issue I care deeply about,” Greenwald wrote in a Tweet Monday night. “As a son watching my mother break the glass ceiling in politics and as a father of 2 daughters, I have a passion for the pursuit of equality. In light of a full understanding of the composition of this panel, I will be withdrawing from participating and offering my seat instead to someone who can bring a more diverse and inclusive point of view to this critical issue.”

Shortly after Greenwald pulled out, the panel was canceled. It was to be one of four panels that were scheduled on the topic, with the other three all consisting completely of women.

“Men have a responsibility to step up and support women and we want to start the discussion,” SJ Magazine explained in a statement on Twitter. "No mansplaining allowed."

The issue arose about a week after women posted on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #metoo to discuss their experiences with sexual assault. After a flood of posts from women dominated the social media landscape on Monday, Oct. 16, some women began to point out that the lack of response from men was “deafening.” This prompted some men to post on social media using the hashtag #Ibelieveyou.

However, the attempted inclusion of a man’s point of view was met with derision in this case, including from Alyssa Milano, who posted the flyer on Twitter and wrote, “I’m just going to leave this right here.”

"We so rarely hear a man's point of view," New Jersey-based crisis manager Karen Kessler tweeted.

"This is real," Huffington Post and New York Magazine freelancer Yashar Ali posted.

“There are better ways to support women than to have 4 privileged middle-aged white men take over the stage,” a Twitter user named Dan Jelly posted. “This is tone deaf at best.”

The final all-women panel will meet on Monday, Dec. 4. “Success Stories: Taking charge without wearing a suit and tie,” will feature health expert and family physician Jennifer Caudle; Cooper Healthcare Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer Terry Ricca; Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice President/CEO Marianne Boccolini; and Section Chief of General Radiology for SJRA Helaina Semmler. For information on that event, visit eventbrite.com.

Attached image posted as a flyer on Twitter