I’ve been thinking about the root cause of why women’s lives and safety are not taken seriously in our current society. Whether it’s telling lesbians to stay home if they don’t want to see penises or prioritizing fetuses over women, we aren’t valued. More on abortion at another time, but take a look at this:
There is no doubt that Judith Butler harbors bigotry against all women, whether lesbian or heterosexual. I am sure she would have said the same to me. She asked Amanda Kovattana, whom I've met, if she has a son with a penis. This insincere question ignores how children are raised in our society. Adults who aren't a threat to children typically start setting boundaries between themselves and their opposite-sex children. Introducing these boundaries isn’t about sexualizing them. Instead, modeling boundaries teaches children they have a right to privacy and safety. Allowing men in vulnerable spaces for women, which Butler seems to be ok with, violates those boundaries. Also, she asked her, “What is the danger of a penis exactly?” Has Butler also asked men claiming to be women the same question when they say they don’t feel safe going to the men’s bathroom? I doubt it, and the reason is apparent. She prioritizes men over women. This double standard is no different from prioritizing the dominant racial group over the group without power.
Even when I speak with specific segments of society about my views, I notice listeners roll their eyes and question whether or not I hate men because I am against rape and domestic violence. You read that right. Consider how similar accusations regularly tarnish the 4B movement in South Korea. They are a group of women, horrified by sex-based violence, that grew into a national movement using four words:
bihon- No marrying men
bichulsan- don't have children
biyeonae- don't date men
bisekseu- don't have sex with men
Things have gotten so chaotic in South Korea that many women felt it was safer mentally and physically to avoid men. That pain and need for safety matters little to misogynists:
Notice that, about six minutes into the video, Asian Boss infantilizes the man who stabbed a woman to death but branded the women who are reacting to that death as online extremists. In other words, he and the woman journalist are presenting a completely warped view of radical feminists. I find that most people unfamiliar with OR those who are sexist tend to do that. Do I agree with all aspects of 4B? No, maintaining such an outlook is unrealistic for women. Most women are heterosexual and will marry and have children with men. Even many lesbians choose motherhood. That’s a reality whether anyone likes it or not. What I feel is realistic and healthy is an outlook in which heterosexual marriage and children are a choice rather than compulsory. I agree that no woman should be policing other women's sex lives. However, let's be realistic about something else. Violence against women, murdering women, and sexually exploiting women are far worse than telling a woman she should not date a man.
If you are going to be an activist, you have to have a pretty thick skin. It has to be even thicker if you are a radical feminist activist. People will use the oldest tricks in the book against women who dare stand up for themselves. She hates men! She's hysterical! She hates children! That's why you're single! And so on, and so on, and so on.
At this point, I am unbothered by all the accusations. They are silencing tactics that won't work on all of us. Notice there is more hatred and lies directed at radical feminists than at men who daily commit acts of hate and violence against women. The thought of losing power over women is terrifying. And you know what? I don't care, and you shouldn't either.
Not sure they care what women want. If they did, rape would be rare.
I’m not seeing the harm in a woman hating men. It may be that the worse crime against patriarchy is admitting it out loud.
Anyway, well said.