From 1996-97, I was engaged to an... 'Ardent' Feminist. I was 25-26 at the time and believed the lie that it was essentially about wanting Men & Women to be treated with equal value. As time went on in our relationship, I learned the hard way it was not about that at all. There's a great deal I could say about it, but for now, I'll just remark that because I valued truth more than her feelings, she left, claiming I was, 'The most abusive Man I've ever known.'
In the aftermath, I did a fair amount of research into Feminism, trying to understand what had happened. This also included reading the book my Ex called her 'Bible'. (That's "Secret Survivors", by E. Sue Blume.) At one point, Blume states flat-out that Men are abusive by *nature*, while Women can not be abusive under *any* circumstances.
When I came across that, my Ex's behavior suddenly made perfect sense. It was heartbreaking, to realize this young lady, who needed real help, had instead been led even further astray by these enticing lies, but at least I understood what had happened & why.
Linguistically, how the word "Misogyny" is currently being used has many effects.
1) It shuts down conversation
2) It is used to discredit the speaker
3) How dare you disagree with me
4) it is highly manipulative
Author of "The Rantings of a Single Male", Thomas Ellis, wrote that the accusation is commonly used when another person disagrees with a feminist/woman.
The timing of the switch is due to the failure to pass the ERA. When they lost that, the equality feminists were a) sidelined or b) overcome with bitterness.
I’m considering a future essay on the shift in feminism & society in the 1980s. (It wasn’t just discrimination that changed.) Do you have any input you can give? Any evidence?
Just personal experience. I was raised by a rad fem and taken to many NOW rallies in the 70s. They seemed hopeful, energetic. We lived in Illinois so when the ERA was up for state ratification she went down to the capitol to march.
Illinois didn't pass it. I remember mom sitting on the couch when she got home, in catatonic shock.
The next day the screaming misandry started and is still going 45 years later.
Nice summary of the cognitive dissonance tricks that feminists have been getting up to over the decades. I noticed there was a perfect example of “talking equality” in one of the subheadings to the budget in today’s Aussie. The section summarised hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded benefits that were heading once more to women (who are apparently having a problem with both the major parties) under the heading “Broad boost for gender equality.” Says it all, I say!
Feminists often believe that the world is generally unfair to women, with misogyny present in all parts of their lives. They see any special treatment or preferences given to women as fair because it's a way to balance out the greater hardships they face. This positive discrimination is considered just a way to level the playing field against the more common disadvantages they experience.
To put it simply, when feminists support actions that favor women, it's usually because they think women face more challenges in life. They view this as a way to correct the unfairness rather than giving anyone an extra advantage. It's about making things right, not giving anyone an unearned upper hand.
So, if you come across a situation where women are being given certain privileges, a feminist perspective might be that it's fair because it's compensating for the extra struggles women commonly deal with. This doesn't mean they want to make things easier for women just for the sake of it, but rather to address the deeper issues of inequality.
This is why feminists rely so heavily on portraying women as oppressed victims in order to justify thoughts or actions that in any other context, would be perceived as hypocrisy or entitlement.
From 1996-97, I was engaged to an... 'Ardent' Feminist. I was 25-26 at the time and believed the lie that it was essentially about wanting Men & Women to be treated with equal value. As time went on in our relationship, I learned the hard way it was not about that at all. There's a great deal I could say about it, but for now, I'll just remark that because I valued truth more than her feelings, she left, claiming I was, 'The most abusive Man I've ever known.'
In the aftermath, I did a fair amount of research into Feminism, trying to understand what had happened. This also included reading the book my Ex called her 'Bible'. (That's "Secret Survivors", by E. Sue Blume.) At one point, Blume states flat-out that Men are abusive by *nature*, while Women can not be abusive under *any* circumstances.
When I came across that, my Ex's behavior suddenly made perfect sense. It was heartbreaking, to realize this young lady, who needed real help, had instead been led even further astray by these enticing lies, but at least I understood what had happened & why.
As long as this unchecked mental health is left to thrive there will be no end to DV, or Toxicity.
Accountability no longer exists and feminists see this as a win.
In society where men tend to be accountable they thrive.
That's what got men into trustworthy societal relationships, that go on to achieve positions the feminists desire to have.
Without accountability you can't be seen to be a person that is deserving of leadership, change, influence or dare I say it ........ Accountability.
Look at Trump.
How's the lack of accountability going to pan out long term for the Republican Party.
Hazard a guess but not real well.
He is acting like the feminist movement. Thinking only of the immediate future.
Linguistically, how the word "Misogyny" is currently being used has many effects.
1) It shuts down conversation
2) It is used to discredit the speaker
3) How dare you disagree with me
4) it is highly manipulative
Author of "The Rantings of a Single Male", Thomas Ellis, wrote that the accusation is commonly used when another person disagrees with a feminist/woman.
The timing of the switch is due to the failure to pass the ERA. When they lost that, the equality feminists were a) sidelined or b) overcome with bitterness.
Interesting.
I’m considering a future essay on the shift in feminism & society in the 1980s. (It wasn’t just discrimination that changed.) Do you have any input you can give? Any evidence?
Cheers
Tony
Just personal experience. I was raised by a rad fem and taken to many NOW rallies in the 70s. They seemed hopeful, energetic. We lived in Illinois so when the ERA was up for state ratification she went down to the capitol to march.
Illinois didn't pass it. I remember mom sitting on the couch when she got home, in catatonic shock.
The next day the screaming misandry started and is still going 45 years later.
Cognitive Dissonance goes hand in hand with some of the severest of mental health issues too.
Namely Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissism
Go fugure.
That graph really highlights the shift in language. Very revealing.
Excellent essay – both convincing & concise Thanks
Nice summary of the cognitive dissonance tricks that feminists have been getting up to over the decades. I noticed there was a perfect example of “talking equality” in one of the subheadings to the budget in today’s Aussie. The section summarised hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded benefits that were heading once more to women (who are apparently having a problem with both the major parties) under the heading “Broad boost for gender equality.” Says it all, I say!
Feminists often believe that the world is generally unfair to women, with misogyny present in all parts of their lives. They see any special treatment or preferences given to women as fair because it's a way to balance out the greater hardships they face. This positive discrimination is considered just a way to level the playing field against the more common disadvantages they experience.
To put it simply, when feminists support actions that favor women, it's usually because they think women face more challenges in life. They view this as a way to correct the unfairness rather than giving anyone an extra advantage. It's about making things right, not giving anyone an unearned upper hand.
So, if you come across a situation where women are being given certain privileges, a feminist perspective might be that it's fair because it's compensating for the extra struggles women commonly deal with. This doesn't mean they want to make things easier for women just for the sake of it, but rather to address the deeper issues of inequality.
This is why feminists rely so heavily on portraying women as oppressed victims in order to justify thoughts or actions that in any other context, would be perceived as hypocrisy or entitlement.