The war on women is nothing new, though that turn of phrase might be. I’ve been wondering of late if the anti-intellectual push has resulted in the escalation of anti-feminism. But, then, I realize that anti-feminism is as it ever was.
When the first wave hit, they were met with as much vitriol and violence as we see facing social justice crusaders today. In fact, the men against women’s rights have upped the game, treating it with all the efforts of a cold war. I’ve spoken before about the women of #gamergate and the desire that a certain group of men have to see them not only silenced but utterly destroyed. Much like I have asked myself why conservatives are so concerned about the fetus and not the mother’s life, I’ve wondered why these men are so set on having their women free zones and denying women equality, going so far as to pretend that we have superiority over them. They claim we are incapable of anything. They mention our anatomy in vulgar terms and dehumanize us. But, there is no truth to sexism, eh?
One of my favorite shut downs is: do you have evidence to back up your assertion?
Dudes. Google the statement your damn lazy self. The onus is not on the presenter of the information. If you’re not aware of a fact or believe it is not a fact, it is up to you to confirm it on your own. Most blog posts, videos and discussions online are not theoretical research papers requiring the use of citations. Any statement said can easily be looked up. That is research 101. But, then, that isn’t the point of the statement/question. It’s a shutdown meant to send women on a tail chase. It’s trolling. The men who face down gender talks with such questions, and many others you’re probably familiar with, have no other focus in mind. They are not interested in discussion. They like hyperbole, ad hominem, and direct/indirect threats when the first two don’t count. God forbid you challenge their understanding of the world as they believe it should be. Hubris everywhere. What makes me say this? Because they fill up Reddit and all kinds of forums with their unsubstantiated, fact-filled rants.
If you don’t believe me. Check out David Futurelle’s site, We Hunted The Mammoth. You’ll love it if you find these, as they are affectionately called, fuck boys a bit of entertainment. Oh, my God, the things David brings to the attention of his readers! Women aren’t the only one’s incredulous of the behavior exhibited, either. Many men stand in awe of their fellows’ words and actions. Honestly, I think when something happens in real life, it is this awe, this being dumbstruck by the asinine behavior of another person, their sheer audacity at doing such a thing, that holds them inactive.
Have you ever been stunned to silence? I have. Later, I really wished I had spoken up. For whatever reason, I was utterly shocked and the addition of the fear of speaking up (something women suffer a great deal because of how we are treated when we do speak up), I failed the person being spoken too. Sometimes, I have managed to speak up. I do so more now than ever, but I am getting older and caring less. My parents worry about me because of it!
A couple of death threats and rape threats later, and you realize that things have really escalated too far and we need to do something. Fortunately, it appears that people are reaching the tipping point and have been standing up against the horrible things being said of all women because some guy had a bad experience with one woman, or he repeats a pattern of choosing bad relationships. I dated a few ass holes in my life too, but I don’t go around saying that all men are psychopaths out to get my money and make me work for their benefit. Sure, there are always some who fit whatever stereotyped flavor you’re harping on now. That said, there is no historical evidence of any substantial weight that bears out the things they are claiming. What is visible, is that they own no responsibility in their actions before, during or after the relationship. It’s like they’re five years old.
“Mommy! She took my toy truck!” And then Mommy whispers the ills of women to him and says she’ll never leave him. “Norman! Norman!!”
A couple of examples of things going on around social media…
If women are benefiting in some areas, they’re not benefiting in most. What men, who think women are getting freebies for having vaginas, think are benefits, really aren’t. A lot of what is given way to us is based on gender biases. For instance, women are usually given custody of children in a divorce—something that is and has been changing for decades. Seriously, dudes, get out there and see real people, not just your forum buddies who circle jerk your anger and frustration. My niece was given a choice between parents in the divorce and SHE chose her mother over my brother. Sure we might think that was a huge mistake, but my girl did not. The children are given a choice in almost all cases. If they’re not, case workers work hard to review both parents and see who is best fit to care for them. So don’t tell me that your wife or whoever screwed you over. More likely you’re a dick and lost your kids because you shouldn’t be raising them. There is always more to a story. Let me tell you another one… my grandmother raised my cousin in lieu of both parents, and he even spent time in foster care because his parents were deemed unfit, and she was unable to care for him, as he was getting violent toward her. Funny how actual experience with the system gives you a different look, instead of just going by what some bro claims went down in courtroom.
Do you have evidence to back up your assertion? I want to see court documents and evidence, talk to witnesses and the children. I bet these fellas are real peaches. I’ve met a few. Domestic terrorists in many many cases.
But, anyway. Hearsay and bullshit. The anti-feminist crowd reaches for their anger and frustrations with their personal lives to fuel a war against women, the embodiment of those they blame for all their ills. True to sociopathology, they fixate on the group, plotting their destruction and they gather to them soldiers to do their work.
That is the saddest part. The men they victimize to meet this agenda.
Here we have vulnerable men looking for answers. They’re hurt and frustrated and the last thing they want to do is take on the additional burden of looking inward for part of that answer. So, here comes someone telling them everything they want to hear. That’s how sociopaths work. They look for the weak, the ones ready to be manipulated by a few choice words, and get them to do the work on their agenda, so they continue to appear as upstanding individuals. Most sociopaths are seemingly fantastic people. They’re so very likable, it’s hard to believe that they have any bad intention. That’s the scariest part about them. And, by the time you figure it out, they’ve destroyed your life and you are so deep you either have to fight World War III to get away from them, or you fold and become what they want, even becoming one of them.
Watch this video on Psychopaths/Sociopaths
Ever notice that young white males stalk the #Feminism on Twitter? Go ahead and post something with that tag, and you’ll be inundated with vitriolic replies asking for evidence and trolling you. I’ve had it happen to me on many an occasion. As an abuse survivor, someone who shares the stories of all people who have suffered domestic violence, sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse—I find their operation just another victimization of survivors.
They cheer a group that advocates the rape of women and girls. They try to make eugenics style claims against women’s physiology and intelligence. The same shit said eons ago by pseudo-intellectuals trying to shutdown women’s suffrage. Things that are believed and ingrained in women themselves to this day, in order to keep them subjugated. Things taught a millenia ago….two millenia ago. Here. Here. Here. and Here.
And no one does anything much (until lately).
Our society historically decided to placate sociopaths instead of recognizing their failure with empathy, and the danger they can cause society by that lack of empathy. Not all of them raise to the heights of Charles Manson, but almost all of them leave a wide wake of destruction in their path. The leaders of the supposed Men’s Rights Movement display all of the characteristics of sociopaths, just as their followers do, or their followers show all of the symptoms of being their soldiers—read that as additional and loyal victims. Many are self-admitted domestic abusers, and they claim that is a false accusation brought against them by women looking for stuff. But what do they have to say when one of their bros confirms their crimes? Or, their own child does? They focus the destructo-ray on them too. Slander. Threats. Meltdown.
What good is that movement going to do for men? None at all. Instead of helping feminists bring equality to all, which would alleviate so many of the issues that these men face, they hinder the movement—prolonging the problems in society that propagate the war of the sexes. They double down on patriarchy because it has given them power and that power is the goal.
If feminism had it’s way, it’s quite possible that sexual abuse/assault would be reduced to a very small percent. Men wouldn’t be told that they can’t help themselves but rape, or abuse. That they are the victims of their own psyche and libidos. #bullshit This is so demeaning to men and boys.
I know that equality would advance our society two fold. Think about that. Half of the population of the world is prevented from education and innovation. Half the population is contributing to the future of humanity. So, we limp along relying on only 1/2 of our species to do everything. That is such bull shit, and it robs us all. Power would be distributed among all, and it would alleviate a ton of economic unfairness.
This fight to undo what feminism has done is the same fight that existed over a century ago to prevent women from voting or gaining even a modicum of equality with their male counterparts. It erases LGBTQ persons and doubles down on a cis-gender consensus. In addition, most of the statements made in the forums mentioned above, express racist notions. The movement is very much a movement of patriarchy and it seeks to keep things as they used to be.
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