This is an awesome article on the topic of activist men and how fighting for “the cause” doesn’t address their issues with abusing women and/or misogynistic speak/mentality.
When I read the above article behind that link, it brought back so many memories of how I would feel about men in the political environment I was involved with in my early thru mid 20’s.
It’s a long article but if you are interested in the subject of “progressive” men displaying sexist and abusive behavior, you should read the whole thing.
Subcultures are like mini-me’s of the culture at large (as Hal would say). Just because a man is able to write a paper about or talk about women’s political issues and struggles doesn’t mean they have addressed these issues in a conscious and personal way. These men are raised by men who where raised by men who view women as second class. You don’t read Bell Hooks or any other feminist author and automatically shed all those years of conditioning. Just because a man can quote Rosa Luxemburg doesn’t make him a feminist. It is how you treat women, view women, talk to women, and have relationships with women that show your true feelings about women. It’s not just about how men treat women when they like, love, or lust for them. It’s also (and primarily) about how men treat women when they either 1. Don’t want and/or need anything from them and/or 2. Dislike them.
I need to add that this system of thinking also applies to how women treat and think of other women. Yes, there is less physical and sexual abuse happening between women but women do have the ability to lay a heavy oppressive/judgmental hand on other women – and often this happens without even considering it to be misogynistic or abusive. Women also live in the same patriarchal society that men do and are affected by it as well.
Perfect article. I was suspicious of the view that, say, a white person can’t totally be for black power, or a man can’t totally be a feminist (and I’m sure there are scant exceptions), until I experienced it. Way to go, girl!