General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOnline Misogynists Are Not Fringe Characters
Online Misogynists Are Not Fringe Characters
By Amanda Marcotte
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 10:52 EST
Michael Nugent, the chair of Atheist Ireland, put up an interesting post comparing what happened when the same (really terrible) joke went up on two Facebook pages. In one case, the joke was accompanied by a no-doubt-non-consensual upskirt picture, and in the other, there was no picture. The illustrated one was spread much furtherit had 43,000 likes and 24,000 sharesthan the non-illustrated one, which had 53 likes and 18 shares. But the gap between the two isnt that interesting, since the illustrated one was initially posted on an already-popular page and posts with pictures get shared more anyway. But it is interesting that so many people believe its appropriate to share an image that was taken against a womans will for no other purpose than to humiliate her.
Whats even more interesting is that, because this was Facebook, it was easy to figure who was writing the vicious, sexist garbage in comments mocking the victim of this upskirt photo. Interesting, because theres a tendency, when women complain about online abuse, to dismiss the men who spew it as fringe characters and teenagers. The belief is that mainstream, adult men with families and jobs arent doing this, which allows the denialist to claim, therefore, that misogyny is not tolerated or encouraged by society, making women who complain about it whiners and babies.
So, heres a list of some of the men saying stuff about the upskirt photo:
A supporter of a charity that campaigns against violence
A man who likes science and yoga and Buddhism
A man who likes classical music and his local church
A man who likes good grammar and atheist quotes of the day
A man asking for prayers for a relation having an operation
A husband who has served in the armed forces
A husband with a teenaged son and daughter
A husband who works with a Christian Ministry
A father who wants to always be there for his children
A father who campaigns against animal cruelty
A father seeking support for special needs children
A grandfather who is proud of his daughter and grandchildren
Several high school and university students and graduates
In other words, mainstream men who have real reputations to guard and who have widespread acceptance and support from their communities. These are not a bunch of teenagers screaming invective because they can or a bunch of fringe weirdoes who no one supports. These are men who have power, men who have families, men who have respect in their communities. So what kind of things did these well-supported, mainstream men have to say about a woman who has an image that is almost surely non-consensual being circulated around the internet for her humiliation?
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/26/online-misogynists-are-not-fringe-characters/
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)Of course they have widespread support. Who is stopping them?
MineralMan
(146,317 posts)misogyny is all too common.
G_j
(40,367 posts)until we look directly at it. Everybody has to take part in evolving beyond ignorance and sexism.
cliffordu
(30,994 posts)Shaw 'nuff.
Skittles
(153,169 posts)cliffordu
(30,994 posts)Just too tired to post my take on some of this stuff.
I give up.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)How nice to meet all these minds.
alp227
(32,027 posts)I'm begging the DU community, PLEASE stop watching that ignorant young man after considering his War on Women. He's basically Rush Limbaugh and the worst of the worst MRA's in a 25-year-old liberal atheist's body.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=100976
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)What are we supposed to think? That men are all so wonderful? This is disgusting and disheartening. I am sickened for one. I don't know if I can ever trust another man again in my life.