Misogyny: The War Against Women [Post 2]

          Being a woman and experiencing, in my short eighteen years on this earth, the belittling effects misogyny has on the physical and emotional development of a young, impressionable girl has led to my passionate and grounded feminist ideology that women deserve to be treated as equals because we are, in fact, equal to men. Misogyny is defined as “a hatred of women” by the Merriam Webster Dictionary. Expanded, Wikipedia explains that misogyny “can be manifested in numerous ways, including sexual discrimination, denigration of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification of women.” All of these manifestations are valid issues, and in their own ways work to undermine women as a whole and as individuals.

            Sexual discrimination has always been prevalent in our society. Susan B. Anthony is quoted saying, “No man is good enough to govern any woman without her consent.” Susan B. Anthony is well-known for her work during the 19^th century women’s right movement toward women’s suffrage. The pinnacle of women’s suffrage came with the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment, allowing for the right to vote to all regardless of sex. And yet, women are still faced with sexual discrimination in the work-place, in politics, and in reference to the wage gap. This discrimination prevents women from rising to power and equality, as men have been able to do. Being controlled politically and economically are the biggest issues to contend with against sexism.

            Terms such as ‘slut-shaming’ and ‘victim blaming’ have become a common part of our vocabulary. Wikipedia defines slut-shaming as “the act of making a woman feel guilty or inferior for engaging in certain sexual behaviors that violate traditional gender expectations. It is also used as a form of victim blaming for rape and sexual assault.” Victim blaming is a rationalization that it is the woman’s fault that she was assaulted, for example, by the way she was dressed or her sexual mannerism previous to saying no to a proposition for sex.

In today’s society, rape has become an accepted and justified crime. Sexual discrimination, violence and sexual objectification against women are not acceptable in any situation. The Merriam Webster may define misogyny as “a hatred of women”, but it is necessary for misogyny to become defined as an unacceptable and intolerable hatred in order to change the mindset of the masses.