Why do we still have empty-minded halfwits hating on women in the grand ‘26? Why, after several centuries of activism and protests in favor of the betterment of women in America, do men still act as though they are in any way superior? Well, it’s because misogyny seems to be, once again, on the upswing.
Misogyny, as explained by philosopher Kate Manne, is different from sexism. Whereas sexism is more of an ideology outlining patriarchal relations between men and women, misogyny is the “enforcement branch” of said system. Misogyny is the witch hunt, the task force of men attempting to keep women in line with their patriarchal ideals. Misogynists notice when women are supposedly out of line with their perfect male-centric world and attempt to put them in their place by belittling them, harassing them, and committing other so-called “minor offenses.”
Where does misogyny even stem from? What unnatural forces could possibly manipulate men into hating half of all humanity? Many like to point to religion, especially the three branches of monotheism. The original lines of thought within all three of these religions (Christianity, Islam, Judaism) strongly promoted traditional marital and societal roles between men and women. While the strict nature of these roles appear inconceivable to most today, we clearly haven’t rid our society of the harmful power dynamic this tradition set in place. Many men still use religious texts as reasoning for their mistreatment of women, claiming their alleged superiority in the relationship as an unavoidable truth. However, I don’t believe that religion is the singular reason for men corrupted by misogyny. I think the reason goes much deeper in the psychology of gender and insecurity.
In the modern world, misogyny is once again on a rise. Through the limitless aid of the internet, some adult men have started profiting off of the blossoming misogyny within young men. Podcasters, influencers, and so-called “self-help” scumbags have littered the digital world with depraved language and values in order to manipulate insecure young men. Since their brains haven’t fully developed, young men from early childhood to late adolescence are joining this cult of women-haters. The division between genders has been more significant this decade than anyone wants to give credit for. We cannot just idly watch as more and more of the younger generations are indoctrinated with misogynistic ideals of superiority and hate.
If women were able to succeed in the movement for women’s suffrage during a much less accepting period, women today can fend off the flames of this new misogynistic movement. Malala Yousafzai, Sara Mardini, Halima Aden are proof that modern women’s activists still have voices worldwide, and it’s our job to listen to those voices (and the countless others in your life) and help in the fight against this wave of misogyny to ensure that it disappears before it takes hold and does more harm than it already has.