Misogyny is Cowardice: An Example
Of course I know some think this way, but it’s still a shock to see it. But as a philosophy professor, I recognize a teaching opportunity when I see it. I wrote before about how racism is cowardice and now we can see how this kid’s diatribe vividly demonstrates how misogyny is cowardice.
I moderate the /r/PhilosophyNotCensored/ subreddit and received a submission from this kid about his “unique” argument about women’s rights. The “argument” was this short diatribe on Twitter:
Let’s insert some philosophy here. First, these thoughts are hardly unique; they are as old as misogyny itself and misogyny, the father of all bigotries, is as old as civilization. The “argument” is simplistic: women only receive respect if they conform to men’s expectations. That’s exactly what “Mark” says. That’s what some men have said for many, many centuries.
Second, if there was ever a plain definition of misogyny, “Mark” has given it. Men are the judges of whether a woman is acceptable or not. “Mark” makes it clear what misogyny means: women have no rights, only privileges granted by men. Men decide what women are allowed to do and women only get to do anything if they have first pleased men. Women need to act properly, as defined by men. In “Mark’s” misogynist view, women are to be treated like dogs: they only get treats if they behave.
