{"id":70835,"date":"2023-11-24T00:05:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T05:05:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=70835"},"modified":"2023-11-24T00:10:51","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T05:10:51","slug":"why-the-man-hating-feminist-is-a-myth-according-to-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/why-the-man-hating-feminist-is-a-myth-according-to-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the man-hating feminist is a myth \u2013 according to science"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As part of the \u201cWomen Against Feminism\u201d campaign that launched in 2014, social media posts have\u00a0featured<\/a>\u00a0young women holding placards with the message \u201cI don\u2019t need feminism because\u2026\u201d listing various reasons ranging from \u201cI respect men\u201d to \u201cI am not a MAN-HATER\u201d.<\/p>\n

This perception of misandry \u2013 a hatred of men – is perhaps the most prevalent and enduring stereotype about feminism. By this account, feminism is not really a movement to end sexism and bring about gender equality, but rather it is wholly concerned with dislike of men.<\/p>\n

While \u201cWomen Against Feminism\u201d was ultimately eclipsed three years later by the #MeToo movement, it reflects a wider reality that stereotypes about feminism have caused women to\u00a0spurn<\/a>\u00a0and even publicly denounce the movement.<\/p>\n

But is it actually true that feminists tend to dislike men? Not according to our\u00a0recent research<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A root cause of hatred<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Research evidence shows that awareness of negative tropes of feminists as \u201cman-haters\u201d reduces both women\u2019s willingness to identify as\u00a0feminists<\/a>\u00a0and their support of\u00a0gender equality<\/a>\u00a0initiatives.<\/p>\n

The idea of the man-hater also animates\u00a0hatred of feminism and of women<\/a>\u00a0in the manosphere \u2013 websites that promote masculinity and misogyny \u2013 where it is used to promote opposition to gender equality and to justify acts of violence.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are reasons to suspect that at least some feminists might hold negative attitudes toward men. A few even\u00a0advocate misandry<\/a>\u00a0as a rational and authentic response to men\u2019s violent, degrading and oppressive treatment of women.<\/p>\n

In a way it would make sense for feminists to dislike a group that threatens their welfare and dignity. And we know that negative feelings toward advantaged groups in society can actually be an important driver of protest and other forms of\u00a0collective action<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But feminists, at least those subscribing to mainstream liberal beliefs, often see men and women as relatively similar to each other. And we know that perceived similarity promotes attraction and\u00a0positive attitudes<\/a>\u00a0toward individuals and groups.<\/p>\n

Feminists might therefore be expected to have positive attitudes toward men. Such views have been reflected in the words and actions of some prominent feminists.<\/p>\n

The writer bell hooks (pen name)\u00a0explicitly called out the suffering of men<\/a>, particularly men of colour, under misogynistic systems. These sentiments were echoed by Emma Watson\u00a0at the UN in 2014<\/a>.
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