OPINION PIECE
Author: Jhanavi Ravi
Editor: Aliyy Eloraby
Photography: Leilani Taulhani
Numerous social issues in our world stem from prejudice and stereotypes, with one of them being gender inequality. There are many factors which play large roles in the widening levels of respect between genders; Double Standards, Sexual Harassment, Verbal Assault, Wage Gaps, and the list goes on. There are also some other factors that not a lot of people look into but contribute just as much to gender inequality, one of these factors being misogyny.
What is Misogyny?
Misogyny is defined as integrated prejudice against women and girls. Essentially, it’s believing that women don’t deserve the same rights as men It’s thinking that women are not as good or as capable as men, as that they don’t have the capabilities to accomplish something on an equal scale as men.
Misogyny in Everyday Life - Just a Joke?
While someone might not directly tell someone else that they’re misogynistic or that they think that women are inferior to men, misogyny is very common among us. Jokes such as ‘Women belong in the kitchen’ are some very common examples of misogyny. One of the most widely spoken jokes like this is the ‘you run like a girl’ joke, insinuating the fact the girls can’t run; believe it or not, they can.
Misogynistic comments are made very often, and when someone is accused of it, they try and cover it up by saying ‘It’s just a joke’. A joke is supposed to make people laugh; a joke is supposed to be funny. Putting women down solely because they are women isn’t something that’s making me laugh till my stomach aches.
Internalized Misogyny.
What’s worse is that it’s not just males passing along these rude comments, but rather women as well. When a woman or a girl projects misogynistic ideas onto females, it is known as internalized misogyny. Here is a very common scenario where internalized misogyny is portrayed:
(Sidenote: The names in this scenario do not apply to any real-life events.
Rebecca: Hey Jessica! Do you want to maybe go out to the mall with me and my friends this weekend?
Jessica: No, I’ll pass. I think going to the mall and shopping for clothes is really dumb.
Rebecca: Oh… Well, you’re still welcome to come if you’d like.
Jessica: I don’t go to malls or wear makeup. I play video games and hang out with the boys.
Rebecca: I mean, if that’s what you feel comfortable doing, then good for you.
Jessica: Girls are too much drama. They make a big deal out of everything. All they care about is dressing up and it’s really annoying.
Now, here is what this scenario would have looked like if you just removed the internalized misogyny from the picture:
Rebecca: Hey Jessica! Do you want to maybe go out to the mall with my friends and me this weekend?
Jessica: No thanks, I’ll pass.
Rebecca: Oh… Well, you’re still welcome to come if you’d like.
See how easy it is to not be misogynistic or hurtful towards women in general? In the scenario where internalized misogyny was portrayed, Jessica was going by almost all of the stereotypes of women to criticize them. Just because one girl likes makeup, it doesn’t represent all women in general, but the scenario completely disregards this.
A lot of people may not know when they are being misogynistic, which is why we need to be vocal about this issue. We need to let people know that these comments are not okay and that they are in fact very damaging for women. This is not a case of women being sensitive, but rather a case of a lack of respect.
If we want to make a change and make the world a better place, if we really want women to be brought up to an equal standard as men, then that change needs to start with us. To combat sexism and misogyny, we ourselves need to not be sexist or misogynistic. If you ever witness acts of sexism or misogyny, let them know of their harmful actions, or if you’re not comfortable telling it to them upfront, talk to a responsible adult about it.
well written and valid points :)