Feminism, anti-patriarchy and women’s empowerment
“ You Simply Hate Men And Are a Misandrist”
No, I dislike the oppression and emotional labour farming of women under patriarchy
There is no dearth of condemnation and harsh retaliation on writers who speak up on themes relating to female empowerment or anti-patriarchy.
The war cry of men often goes something like this:
“ You Hate men”
You’re a misandrist”
Another sad and bitter woman who will die with her cats by her side
“NOT ALL MEN”
And so forth.
Playing the game of blame, and shame
Having written a few “not so pretty” and inflammatory articles myself regarding toxic male behaviour, and their entitlement under a patriarchal system, I’ve been on the receiving end of such lazy rhetoric.
So as a feminist and female empowerment voice, do I hate men?
No, I don’t. To think that I would hate a single sub-demographic of humans simply because of their biological gender is a farce. It’s sheer lazy and silly thinking if I might say. I don’t hate men. But I certainly do dislike many of the behaviours exhibited by most entitled men under the umbrella of a rampant patriarchal system.
I find that quickly shutting down anyone who speaks her voice against the ill-treatment, predation, manipulation emotional and physical abuse of women, is demeaning of the struggles many women undergo daily.
Women are allowed to have a voice
Why is it that whenever a woman expresses her voice in a manner not tailored to the egos and praise of men, then she is suddenly called a misandrist or man-hater?
Of course, there might indeed be some feminists out there that can’t stand men. Have simply gone their way, and rinsed their hands of men forever. But I’m yet to meet one. Also, even if that was the case, it doesn’t diminish the conversation that should be had about the foul treatment many women have to endure in a sexist and patriarchal world.
Stating “NOT ALL MEN” by male-centered women, and men, is a lazy and dismissive cop-out in my opinion. Why are we even saying not all men? We really should be saying“ Not any man”
why should women be sexually predated or ovbjectived or emotionally manipualted by the majority of men in society, and we think this is okay, because good lord, it’s “ not all men”
Are men operating from logic or ego?
So before Mr. keyboard Warrior jumps in with his defensive armor on, ready to shoot my words down, take a moment to breathe, collect yourself, and ask what place are you coming from? Is it from a place of being butt hurt, and ego-shaken, that you can’t see any merit in my words?
Or is it simply because you are enjoying all the benefits of patriarchy so much, that any condemnation of it, is a threat to your status in it?
Because inherently I feel that many men are so conditioned under patriarchy to see themselves as “good men coming to save emotionally fragile women.
Who simply can’t see how their lives are improved by being a wife/mother/girlfriend/ server of men” that they are blinded to how patriarchy inherently hurts everyone. Men and women included.
Men will march to the doorsteps of women writers, in mental arms, ready to kill her words of emancipation and freedom. Because they simply aren’t used to seeing a woman want to liberate herself and other women.
We are more than our looks
Dear men, there is a lot more to a woman than looking pretty, bearing children, cooking cleaning, and being an intimate toy. We have a depth of emotions, opinions, and values that we have to offer the world, just like you.
Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry. — Gloria Steinem
You have to give me more than that
I’m tired of the man-hater, misandry, lonely cat lady trope. If you can’t have an intelligent, fleshed-out discussion on the issues I write on, then why bother? Save your “Man-hating trope” for someone who cares.
Just for laughs (an example of the ridiculousness of some men)
Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians. — Pat Robertson
We must not allow ourselves to be deflected by the feminists, who are anxious to force us to regard the two sexes as completely equal in position and worth. — Sigmund Freud
and who said Sigmund was a great thinker again?
Oh, please!
Writer’s Note: I’m Egypt, a poet and writer. I write at the intersection of poetry, words, and thoughts. This piece is inspired by my experience writing some articles on themes of feminism, and female empowerment.
Are you a writer with similar experiences? Or a man with a reasonable voice to add to this conversation? Do share your thoughts by leaving a comment. As these conversations need to be had.
