citrinesunset: (Default)
citrinesunset ([personal profile] citrinesunset) wrote in [community profile] fandomsecrets 2013-03-02 12:49 am (UTC)

Re: inb4 "DIE SCUM DIE"

I think word origin is different from people co-opting the word to further their own agenda. The fact that it is often used by MRA types to promote misogynistic ideas is unfortunate, and a good reason to be careful about using the word. But it doesn't mean that the word doesn't exist, or doesn't have a legitimate definition. Misandry exists because it's possible for a person to hate men. I think a better argument is whether it's worth using "misandry" to describe that. Personally, I would hesitate to describe hatred of men as "misandry" simply because it does, to a lot of people, become conflated with larger, societal forms of prejudice like sexism.

I'm not disagreeing with you. Misogyny is a serious, pervasive social problem, and hating men is comparatively much less common. Men don't suffer from misandry like women suffer from misogyny. But that isn't the point. There are times when bringing up hatred of men derails from discussion of what women face, but this whole secret is about how the OP feels about the treatment of men on a particular show. It's not talking about larger trends or problems.

I think hating anyone is a problem. I can sympathize with why some women become wary of or even hate men in general, based on their experiences with them. But it's an uncontrollable reaction, not something to be lauded. And in any case, hatred is hatred whether it's a common or arguably justified form of hatred or not. That's why blanket statements of "misandry doesn't exist" don't sit well with me. I think people understandably want to combat the rampant idea that members of oppressed groups are being "hateful" toward the majority groups just by existing or fighting for their rights. But suggesting it's impossible for someone to hate a majority group is just inaccurate. There will always be that person who really does hate men, or straight people, or white people.

I don't think we really disagree on anything you say, though.

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