A hypothetical system of discrimination against directly and specifically men. I do not agree that this system exists. Our ruling class is patriarchal and men hold significantly disproportionate amounts of power in society. There is no system of discrimination that affects all men as a class. There exists biases and discrimination against men, but nothing that does so using the structure of a system and through institutional power.
What would you call an individual’s feeling of hatred of or superiority to women? That’s the popular definition of misogyny, not the systemic issues. Usually the system itself is called the patriarchy.
Likewise, an individual’s feelings of hatred or superiority to men is popularly called misandry, which absolutely exists. I don’t think there’s any such thing as a “matriarchy” systemically oppressing men anywhere in the world.
Youre fundamentally misunderstanding what a power structure is. It’s not merely a group of individuals who are misogynistic (that is commiting acts of: violence against women, discriminating against women, subjugation women, and perpetuating hatred and prejudice against women) its a pervasive continuous problem across all levels of society and perpetuated by all functions of society. Misogyny exists so universally in our society that every single woman experiences it throughout their lives beginning as very young children. Our own parents teach us misogyny, our education system reinforces misogyny, our media shows us misogyny and so on. There’s no woman who doesn’t experience it, it affects all women as a class.
No such system exists that discriminates against men as a class.
I know, I get that, I’m asking about terminology. So what would you call a single person who hates women? Not the power structure, just that one person.
A misogynist, assuming you mean someone who is reinforcing or using the power structure of misogyny. To call it hatred is reductive, someone can be misogynistic and not think of themselves as a misogynist. They can have misogynistic opinions, commit misogynistic acts, or spread misogynistic misinformation without seeing themselves as someone who hates women.
Well that’s a problem then, because you’re using the same term to refer to two different but related things. Well, it becomes a problem when you consider misandry. Sure, there’s no systemic oppression of men (except collateral damage from the patriarchy). But there are absolutely individuals and groups of individuals who hate or are dismissive of men. We need a word for that.
I think the popular definitions here are more useful than yours, because it prevents misunderstandings when someone says something like “misandry is a thing that exists”. They’re not saying it exists in a systemic, structural way. Just that there are individuals who feel like that.
There exists biases and discrimination against men, but nothing that does so using the structure of a system and through institutional power.
So you wouldn’t actually consider societal pressures against men as misandry? You wouldn’t consider the structures that force men to disregard their own emotions to take on provider roles as misandry. You don’t see men commiting sucide at 3 times the rate of women significant enough of a qualifier? You don’t see how influences like these connect back to men having to be “hard”. You don’t see how men are used and disregarded by society? Like I am literally missing a piece of my body, and it’s just socially accepted.
Like men aren’t just in power, men are pushed towards power.
And… I just realized you acknowledge toxic masculinity. So toxic masculinity does effect all men, on societial and institutional levels, which fits your definition of misandry.
[…] biases and discrimination against men […] using the structure of a system and through institutional power.
Its not that I don’t consider it to be misandry its that its not systemic against men as a class. It is not a power structure. There is no woman ruling class enforcing hatred and discrimination against men across all levels of society. Gender roles are a big part of misogyny, specifically the relegation of women to a breeding and mating class that must care for and dedicate themselves to men who leave the home for work every day. Just because it’s misogynistic doesn’t mean it doesn’t have negative effects for men too, it’s because it affects women as a class that it is different. Its because its systemic. Which is the difference between misogyny and forms of non systemic violence and discrimination.
I don’t understand how you could think that being “pushed into power” could somehow be indicative of a power structure oppressing men as a class across society. That’s a key part of it, the ruling class the most powerful people in society are patriarchal men.
Toxic masculinity is a system that benefits the ruling class of men, who are misogynistic and homophobic and weaponize those structures against men perceived to be weak or effeminate or girly. Not all men suffer due to toxic masculinity, many benefit from it. Toxic masculinity enables men to assault women physically and sexually by promoting anger and lack of responsibility for the actions of men. Toxic masculinity promotes the concept of women as subservient to men who are naturally aggressive and ‘manly’. Toxic masculinity does not affect men as a class, though it is related to several power structures in society.
Its not that I don’t consider it to be misandry its that its not systemic against men as a class. It is not a power structure
But… toxic toxic masculinity is systemic against men as a class, and it does operate on the level of societial and institutional pressures. That fits the critia for a power structure.
And 99% of men are not “the ruling class”, so I just don’t see why you would even make that generalization. Especially when the vast majority of issues we talk about are dependent on societial norms, not institutional structures.
Is that the crux of your argument? Until women hold the balance of leadership roles systemic misandry isn’t a thing?
Well ideally misandry would never be allowed to exist even in a post patriarchal society. But it doesn’t exist now, it is hypothetical.
The ruling class is only men, it is exclusive to men, the ruling class holds disproportionate power in society. The ruling class is the principle group that benefits from power structures, like misogyny racism and homophobia. The ruling class is not disadvantaged as a class in any way, they are the apex of social economic and political power. They have supported institutions like slavery and patriarchy as means of reinforcing their power by stratifing society to benefit themselves. The ruling class has no power structure targeting men as a class.
Toxic masculinity largely functions by excusing the violence caused by men against women and minorities. It does not exist as a system that commits acts of violence and discrimination against men as a class. It has a side effect of discouraging men from being things that are deemed effeminate, like emotional intelligence and empathy. Which is absolutely a real problem that is important to talk about. It promotes men as being free from the consequences of comitting acts of violence against women and minorities. It does have side effects for men, but it exists as a means for men to hurt those other groups and not be held accountable for it. Rape culture is a significant part of toxic masculinity. And the ruling class benefits the most from this.
I’m getting tired of reiterating the same points to the same inquiries though, so please feel free to read what I’ve already said if you’re curious how I think.
I’m really disappointed in your inability to confront your own biases. You set definitions, I meet them, and then you just move the goal posts.
How you call Bob at the hardware store “the ruling class” is BEYOND me. 99% of men don’t have any sort of ruling authority. So you’ve created a term that holds men to a level of responsibility they don’t have, and then you use that to disqualify the actuality of misandry in society… Fuuuck…
Thank you for taking the time to lay out your biases for me. You’ve really helped me breakdown this shit, and I appreciate that. Sorry for any anxiety I’ve given you, but seriously… you need to expand your perspective outside of feminist rhetoric.
Can you define your use of misogyny?
The system of violence, subjugation, discrimination, hatred and prejudice that directly oppresses women.
And your definition of misandry?
A hypothetical system of discrimination against directly and specifically men. I do not agree that this system exists. Our ruling class is patriarchal and men hold significantly disproportionate amounts of power in society. There is no system of discrimination that affects all men as a class. There exists biases and discrimination against men, but nothing that does so using the structure of a system and through institutional power.
What would you call an individual’s feeling of hatred of or superiority to women? That’s the popular definition of misogyny, not the systemic issues. Usually the system itself is called the patriarchy.
Likewise, an individual’s feelings of hatred or superiority to men is popularly called misandry, which absolutely exists. I don’t think there’s any such thing as a “matriarchy” systemically oppressing men anywhere in the world.
Youre fundamentally misunderstanding what a power structure is. It’s not merely a group of individuals who are misogynistic (that is commiting acts of: violence against women, discriminating against women, subjugation women, and perpetuating hatred and prejudice against women) its a pervasive continuous problem across all levels of society and perpetuated by all functions of society. Misogyny exists so universally in our society that every single woman experiences it throughout their lives beginning as very young children. Our own parents teach us misogyny, our education system reinforces misogyny, our media shows us misogyny and so on. There’s no woman who doesn’t experience it, it affects all women as a class.
No such system exists that discriminates against men as a class.
I know, I get that, I’m asking about terminology. So what would you call a single person who hates women? Not the power structure, just that one person.
A misogynist, assuming you mean someone who is reinforcing or using the power structure of misogyny. To call it hatred is reductive, someone can be misogynistic and not think of themselves as a misogynist. They can have misogynistic opinions, commit misogynistic acts, or spread misogynistic misinformation without seeing themselves as someone who hates women.
Well that’s a problem then, because you’re using the same term to refer to two different but related things. Well, it becomes a problem when you consider misandry. Sure, there’s no systemic oppression of men (except collateral damage from the patriarchy). But there are absolutely individuals and groups of individuals who hate or are dismissive of men. We need a word for that.
I think the popular definitions here are more useful than yours, because it prevents misunderstandings when someone says something like “misandry is a thing that exists”. They’re not saying it exists in a systemic, structural way. Just that there are individuals who feel like that.
So you wouldn’t actually consider societal pressures against men as misandry? You wouldn’t consider the structures that force men to disregard their own emotions to take on provider roles as misandry. You don’t see men commiting sucide at 3 times the rate of women significant enough of a qualifier? You don’t see how influences like these connect back to men having to be “hard”. You don’t see how men are used and disregarded by society? Like I am literally missing a piece of my body, and it’s just socially accepted.
Like men aren’t just in power, men are pushed towards power.
And… I just realized you acknowledge toxic masculinity. So toxic masculinity does effect all men, on societial and institutional levels, which fits your definition of misandry.
Its not that I don’t consider it to be misandry its that its not systemic against men as a class. It is not a power structure. There is no woman ruling class enforcing hatred and discrimination against men across all levels of society. Gender roles are a big part of misogyny, specifically the relegation of women to a breeding and mating class that must care for and dedicate themselves to men who leave the home for work every day. Just because it’s misogynistic doesn’t mean it doesn’t have negative effects for men too, it’s because it affects women as a class that it is different. Its because its systemic. Which is the difference between misogyny and forms of non systemic violence and discrimination.
I don’t understand how you could think that being “pushed into power” could somehow be indicative of a power structure oppressing men as a class across society. That’s a key part of it, the ruling class the most powerful people in society are patriarchal men.
Toxic masculinity is a system that benefits the ruling class of men, who are misogynistic and homophobic and weaponize those structures against men perceived to be weak or effeminate or girly. Not all men suffer due to toxic masculinity, many benefit from it. Toxic masculinity enables men to assault women physically and sexually by promoting anger and lack of responsibility for the actions of men. Toxic masculinity promotes the concept of women as subservient to men who are naturally aggressive and ‘manly’. Toxic masculinity does not affect men as a class, though it is related to several power structures in society.
But… toxic toxic masculinity is systemic against men as a class, and it does operate on the level of societial and institutional pressures. That fits the critia for a power structure.
And 99% of men are not “the ruling class”, so I just don’t see why you would even make that generalization. Especially when the vast majority of issues we talk about are dependent on societial norms, not institutional structures.
Is that the crux of your argument? Until women hold the balance of leadership roles systemic misandry isn’t a thing?
Well ideally misandry would never be allowed to exist even in a post patriarchal society. But it doesn’t exist now, it is hypothetical.
The ruling class is only men, it is exclusive to men, the ruling class holds disproportionate power in society. The ruling class is the principle group that benefits from power structures, like misogyny racism and homophobia. The ruling class is not disadvantaged as a class in any way, they are the apex of social economic and political power. They have supported institutions like slavery and patriarchy as means of reinforcing their power by stratifing society to benefit themselves. The ruling class has no power structure targeting men as a class.
Toxic masculinity largely functions by excusing the violence caused by men against women and minorities. It does not exist as a system that commits acts of violence and discrimination against men as a class. It has a side effect of discouraging men from being things that are deemed effeminate, like emotional intelligence and empathy. Which is absolutely a real problem that is important to talk about. It promotes men as being free from the consequences of comitting acts of violence against women and minorities. It does have side effects for men, but it exists as a means for men to hurt those other groups and not be held accountable for it. Rape culture is a significant part of toxic masculinity. And the ruling class benefits the most from this.
I’m getting tired of reiterating the same points to the same inquiries though, so please feel free to read what I’ve already said if you’re curious how I think.
I’m really disappointed in your inability to confront your own biases. You set definitions, I meet them, and then you just move the goal posts.
How you call Bob at the hardware store “the ruling class” is BEYOND me. 99% of men don’t have any sort of ruling authority. So you’ve created a term that holds men to a level of responsibility they don’t have, and then you use that to disqualify the actuality of misandry in society… Fuuuck…
Thank you for taking the time to lay out your biases for me. You’ve really helped me breakdown this shit, and I appreciate that. Sorry for any anxiety I’ve given you, but seriously… you need to expand your perspective outside of feminist rhetoric.