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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Misogyny and sexism. How big is the overlap?

54 replies

BlazeAway · 07/08/2018 21:18

I've been asked what the difference is, and I'm struggling to articulate it.

I would say that sexism is based on being lazy with gender stereotypes, (so assuming that a women rather than a man is a secretary), whereas misogyny has an actual hatred/fear/contempt of women behind it (so saying women are only good for being secretaries, or better still being at home with the children), but I don't know whether that's fully it.

I don't know whether I'm making sexism seem too minor in my definition. What would you say?

OP posts:
seafret · 07/08/2018 23:08

Lack of respect and lack of empathy is at the core of many sexist assumptions against women, that isn't always shown in quite the same way in sexism against men, meaning a lot of sexism against women is 'low level' misogyny, so perhaps that is where some of the difficulty lies if you are trying to explain it to a man who doesn't get it becasue their expereince has been different.

We may assume all men like fast cars but we might infer that this means they risk takers or something but it doesn't always have a particular negative connotation for their intelligence or other skills, so is sexist but not misandrist, but your secretary examply goes beyond that into misogyny as it assumes the women is less than a man.

Similarly, assuming all women like to paint their nails is a bit more than a benignly sexist assumption because it stems from a prevailing misogynystic idea that women are all vapid and shallow and should know their feminine place (unless they are working class women, in which case they should be cleaning up and cooking food not wasting their time on nails).

Just my thoughts and not at all concise. Sorry!

seafret · 07/08/2018 22:47

Sexism can be against either sex so stereotypes etc. Misogyny is sexism against women with added nasty.

Misogyny covers a spectrum I think, from some 'low level' sexism to active, broiling hatred.

I would say leave out lazy, as misogyny could be equally lazy (or mindless perhaps) in rationale, even if more active in it's application.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/08/2018 21:25

I think that's about right. The dictionary definitions make a similar distinction

Sexism - prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.

Misogyny - dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women.

Maybe the 'lazy' in what you said is a bit minimising?

SarahCarer · 07/08/2018 21:24

I'd say that's a pretty good definition Blaze.

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