Misogyny

Misogyny: noun

Dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.

Simple huh? But no

The very idea of misogyny has always seemed rather bizarre to me. My mother was an incredible woman, as was her mother, I loved them both deeply, the idea I could have a dislike of them is just completely alien.

Yet recently, public discourse (lets talk Twitter) is littered with the word. Laurence Fox finds himself on the verge of the sack from his latest job because he wouldn't want to shag a particular type of woman (ie: feminists who regularly mock men) In particular his ire was directed toward an obscure, female journalist with a history of mocking men. But is that misogyny? It doesn't fit the dictionary definition, he doesn't have a dislike or prejudice toward ALL women, just a certain type.

I have to be honest, I wouldn't want to shag a raging feminist either, but this doesn't narrow the dating pool much, very few women buy into the idea of feminism anyway (certainly not the latest waves) But plenty of people claim Fox was being misogynistic on both ends of the political spectrum, this needs a closer inspection.

To Twitter we go.

What is misogyny

Misogyny is Patriarchy

Patriarchy is the idea that men built society to benefit men and oppress women. The problem here is the idea of "patriarchy" just doesn't fit the society we in the west live. Men and women are equal under the law, women enjoy extra protection (safe spaces such as separate changing rooms, toilet facilities etc) The fact that our society is ever evolving also debunks the theory of patriarchy, if men really wanted to oppress women they just would. In fact, there are a lot of men that do just that. But in comparison to how many men there actually are, its a tiny minority and certainly not the way men think in general.

Patriarchy is basically a conspiracy theory, shadowy men meeting in darkly lit rooms plotting to suppress women. men hiding in corridors and round corners waiting to pounce on unsuspecting women who dare defy the patriarchy is not what our society is all about. Most men are raised by women, they love women, they have relationships with women and they love their daughters. 

Now let me ask you, does that sound like any man you know? No, probably not, because patriarchy is a demon resurrected by feminists as a weapon to bludgeon all men into silence should they dare question a feminists motive.

Victimhood is a hell of a drug, but lets call it out for what it is. Patriarchy is a conspiracy theory.

Misogyny is a man that kills a woman

This is also a bit of a stretch. A man could kill a woman for any number of reasons, none of which could be justified (well maybe if he found out she had murdered his baby possibly) but it doesn't fit the definition.

Misogyny is a man who doesn't want to shag a certain type of woman (ref Laurence Fox)

The weakest argument so far

Misogyny is threatening women.

Ok, we have a new entrant in "weakest argument" So if a man threatens a woman (any woman) that's misogyny?

I'm getting all these claims from Twitter, there's thousands of them! There must be a new definition of misogyny that I'm missing, maybe all will be revealed later.

Misogyny is saying that men are better at sports.

Well, I don't think acknowledging biological fact is misogyny

Misogyny is saying that men are physically stronger

Again, biologically the average man will be physically stronger that the average woman. That's not to say that all men are stronger than all women. Its biology.

Misogyny is porn

Well, not being a consumer of porn I cant comment from a position of experience, but plenty of porn stars (all women) seem to be doing pretty good, so it doesn't look like misogyny to me.

Caveat: I am well aware of sites like Pornhub, some of the stories I hear are both shocking and heart breaking. I would imagine there are plenty of misogynists in the porn industry, but is porn itself misogyny?

Misogyny is the objectification of women

Probably a grey area, but I would still have to say this isn't misogyny either. If some 25 year old woman showing off her cleavage on TikTok isn't inviting people (men) to comment on her cleavage then I don't know what is. 

In fact, if women want to show off their bodies, its perfectly ok to comment on it. It doesn't mean that anyone looking isn't fully aware that she also has a brain and is a human person. if she shot video of herself solving simultaneous, quadratic equations. its ok to compliment her on her intelligence, but also recognise that she is also capable of other things.

Misogyny is controlling women

I suppose you could also file this under patriarchy

Misogyny is men calling out other men for misogyny (yes someone actually typed this)

I have nowhere to go on this

Misogyny is men wanting to protect women.

Alrighty then.

Misogyny is not getting equal pay compared to a man vastly more experienced.

Apparently so. Female interns should get paid the same as a man with many years experience in the field according to..........Well, actually loads of people. Also, linked to patriarchy.

Misogyny is denying the patriarchy

Somewhere, way back when I began this latest blog I just knew this would come up

Misogyny is a right wing conspiracy.

Ok.

Misogyny is feminism I don't like

Hmmmmmmm

Misogyny is asking a woman if she has a boyfriend

I seem to have entered an alternate universe, I need to stop now. 

So to sum up. Misogyny is a huge umbrella, most of the theory behind these definitions of misogyny are mindboggling. 

Is there a common theme, is there something that ties everything together, after all, it all seems pretty vague. But I didn't have to look very hard to uncover the force behind it

All of it is rooted in far left wing feminist theory. So how would you fight back against something like that?

Well that's pretty easy, when the claim is made, ask them to define misogyny for you, they probably won't so hit them with the dictionary definition and ask them where their claim aligns itself to the definition.

On a chilling note, because I love to cheer people up. There is a very small (but loud) progressive voice that wants misogyny to be classed as a hate crime.

If they ever get round to debating this in parliament, I hope they actually define what misogyny is before they pass a law designating it a hate crime.