Misogyny

• 1. Etymology And Lexical History

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  The English word misogyny emerged in 1620 through an anonymous play titled Swetnam the Woman-Hater. This work introduced the character Misogynos, which became the origin of the term misogynist in English language usage. Before this publication, the concept existed only as the Ancient Greek word misogunia, appearing in moral tracts from around 150 BC. Stoic philosopher Antipater of Tarsus used the term to describe Euripides' rejection of hatred toward women in his writing. The word remained rare until the mid-1970s when feminist Andrea Dworkin popularized it through her 1974 critique Woman Hating. Second-wave feminism adopted the term to include not just hatred but also practices controlling women with violence and punishing those who reject subordination. In 2012, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered a parliamentary address known as the Misogyny Speech that promoted re-evaluation of published definitions. Her speech criticized opponents for holding her policies to different standards than male politicians while speaking about her in crudely sexual terms. The Macquarie Dictionary revised its definition in 2012 to better match how the word had been used over the prior thirty years.

• 2. Philosophical And Historical Roots

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  Aristotle described women as deformed males in his work Politics, stating that the male is by nature superior and the female inferior. He claimed women have fewer teeth than men and are more mischievous, less simple, and more impulsive than men. Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote in Emile that girls must be thwarted from an early age and exercised to constraint so they submit to others will without cost. Arthur Schopenhauer argued in On Women that women are childish, frivolous, and short sighted by nature meant to obey. Friedrich Nietzsche stated in Beyond Good and Evil that stricter controls on women were a condition of every elevation of culture. Hegel's Elements of the Philosophy of Right illustrate criticism characterized as misogynistic regarding his views on women. These philosophers influenced Western culture through their ideas that feminist scholars trace misogyny back to them. Ancient Greek literature considered misogyny to be a disease or anti-social condition running contrary to perceptions of family value. Cicero reported that Greek philosophers attributed misogyny to gynophobia, which means fear of women. The prevailing medical opinion of Chrysippus day held that wine strengthens body and soul alike while he grouped hatred of women with hatred of humanity generally.

• 3. Religious Doctrinal Interpretations

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  Greek mythology according to Hesiod describes Pandora carrying a jar containing all evil including labour sickness old age and death when she opened it against instructions. Christianity foundations include guilt about sex insistence on female subjection and dread of female seduction found in St Paul epistles. Tertullian thought a woman was not only gateway of devil but also temple built over sewer according to Catholic Church Fathers. Some Christian institutions exclude women from Mount Athos region of Greece and from governing hierarchy of Catholic Church. John Knox wrote in The First Blast of Trumpet Against Monstrous Regiment of Women that women should be excluded from secular government for religious reasons. Verse 34 of Chapter 4 Quran notes men God given advantages over women making them protectors and maintainers where disobedient women may be beaten. Professor Reza Aslan wrote misogynistic interpretation has been persistently attached to An Nisa because commentary on Quran exclusive domain Muslim men. Sikh community contains toxic masculinity despite Guru Nanak being fighter for women rights according to scholars William M Reynolds and Julie A Webber. Unconscious misogynistic attitudes in Sikh men have steadily reduced power of women within the faith tradition. Buddhism morally exalts male monks while mothers and wives of monks also have important roles according to professor Bernard Faure.

• 4. Modern Manifestations And Violence

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  Femicide represents intentional killing of women or girls on account of their sex as ideological misogynist killing sometimes example domestic violence. Since 2018 counter terrorism professionals such as ICCT and START tracked misogyny or male supremacy ideologies motivating terrorism described rising threat. Attacks designated as misogynist terrorism include 2014 Isla Vista killings and 2018 Toronto van attack motivated by perception entitled sexual access to women. Online misogyny includes individual attempts intimidate denigrate women denial gender inequity neosexism coordinated collective attempts vote brigading Gamergate antifeminist harassment campaign. Most likely targets for coordinated attacks are women visible public sphere speaking out threats receive perceived associated feminism feminist gains. Swatting brought Gamergate attacks into physical world using anonymous authors writing misogynistic epithets graphic sexualized imagery centering women physical appearance prescribing sexual violence corrective targeted women. Anita Sarkeesian Laurie Penny Caroline Criado Perez Stella Creasy Lindy West spoke out about these attacks. A 2016 study Demos think tank found majority Twitter messages containing whore slut advertisements pornography non aggressive discussions slut shaming half used terms aggressive insulting way women men equally. Incels believe women pick partners based solely looks unattractive alone forever hate women systematic discrimination against men carry misogyny killing sprees like 2014 Isla Vista massacre inspiring other incel acts violence.

• 5. Psychological Impact And Internalization

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  Women experiencing internalised misogyny express it through minimising value women mistrusting women believing gender bias favour men common manifestation lateral violence. Misogynist attitudes lead physical sexual emotional abuse gender nonconforming boys childhood. Many feminists write notions good bad women imposed control women easy control advocate own oppression told good categories cause fighting among women Helen Lewis identifies long tradition regulating female behaviour defining women opposition architecture misogyny. Madonna-whore dichotomy virgin-whore dichotomy perception women either good chaste bad promiscuous leads misogyny according feminist perspective justifies policing women behaviour. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie observes when women describe harassed assaulted MeToo movement viewed deserving sympathy only if good women non-sexual helpless. Andrea Dworkin uses traditional fairy tales illustrate misogyny Sleeping Beauty Snow White inert passive characters never think act initiate confront resist challenge feel care question sometimes forced housework evil women queens witches power. Philosopher Kate Manne argues modern feminists denote word misogyny system distinguishing good from bad women rewards punishes women based judgements. Economists Deniz Kandiyoti wrote colonisers Middle East Africa Asia kept conquered armies men control offering complete power over women patriarchal bargain causing societies become more misogynistic.

• 6. Legal Recognition And Policy Debates

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  Recent years discussion England Wales added misogyny list aggravating factors media refer hate crimes currently include hostility victim characteristics sexuality race disability. Nottinghamshire Police began pilot project 2016 record misogynistic behaviour hate crime hate incidents depending whether action criminal offence. Over two years April 2016 March 2018 there were 174 reports made 73 classified crimes 101 incidents September 2018 Law Commission announced review misogynistic conduct ageism misandry goths treated hate crime. October 2018 senior police officers Sara Thornton chair National Police Chiefs Council Cressida Dick Commissioner Metropolitan Police stated police forces focus serious crimes burglary violent offences not recording incidents crimes. Thornton said treating misogyny hate crime concern well-organised campaigning organisations police forces resources do everything. September 2020 Law Commission proposed sex gender added list protected characteristics time proposals seven police forces England Wales classed misogyny hate crime definition adopted board Home Office spokesperson October 2021 stated police forces requested record any crime victim understood driven hostility sex.