Words are not fists: some thoughts on how men work to defuse feminist anger
An interesting perspective from Hugo Schwyzer, a community college history and gender studies professor:
“And you know, as silly as it is, the joking about man-bashing almost always works! Time and again, I’ve seen it work to silence women in the classroom, or at least cause them to worry about how to phrase things “just right” so as to protect the guys and their feelings. It’s a key anti-feminist strategy, even if that isn’t the actual intent of the young man doing it — it forces women students to become conscious caretakers of their male peers by subduing their own frustration and anger. It reminds young women that they should strive to avoid being one of those “angry feminists” who (literally) scares men off and drives them away…”
Olivia Meiring
I absolutely agree Jason. I've been thinking about your comment seriously for some time. it occurred to me that the tactic doesnt actually diffuse anger, it uses embarrassment to muffle it, resulting in a very distorted debate.
Jason Rigby
Since when has diffusing anger in order to allow reasonable debate been a bad thing?
Olivia Meiring
The important thing I noted from it however (if you check out the full blog post on my site) is that its not deliberate. I think its learned behaviour that just happens automatically. On both sides.
Olivia Meiring
hahaha Bronny!! you don't say….
Bronwyn Matlock
sneaky bastards – i know! when men do this it really irks me – i used to care about hurting feelings when ypunger now not so much –