Why do some men get so aggressive to feminists?

[msrisotto]

Some men have come onto the Facebook "Turn your back on page three" page posting misogyny and sexist jokes, even personal comments against individual posters. Why? I really don't know. It's such an effort to be hateful.

We see it all the time though and women do it too. My uncle made a quip about me being a lesbian because I marshalled a reclaim the night march. It's such a good cause, what the fuck? I don't see how anyone could dare ridicule it. It makes me sad.

Perhaps because you rise to the bait? Human nature.

But how could I not? If someone deliberately insults you, if you don't rise to the bait, you are letting them get away with it.

Agree with Bonsoir.
They do it because they imagine a twee little woman all stark and funless sitting at a pc gettingall uppity and bossom hoiking over what they are saying.

Just ignore their posts and they get bored. The more you engage the more fun they have.

Better to pull their leg in return than to rise to the bait.

Practice on MN with the posters who really rile you.

Because they are threatened. Or embarrassed.

If you acknowledge that feminism is needed, you acknowledge that there is a problem still.

And if you acknowledge that there is a problem, you might have to do something and change your behaviour in some way.

And most people are far too lazy and self-interested to do anything like that.

quick hijack - we're talking about The Feminine Mystique on Book Club right now if anyone wants to come along.

For example, there is a really humourless poster on MN who takes herself so seriously it belies belief. Sometimes I tease her and she rises to the bait every time

If you respond angrily, you get called a shrill hysterical lesbian with hairy legs etc etc.

If you respond entirely reasonably, you get called a jealous, ugly, hysterical hag/nag/green-eyed monster etc etc*.

*All names I was called whenever I responded to people's comments (all very reasonably) on the Hooters story last summer.

Most of these men don't want to engage. They are misogynist trolls. Men who are genuinely interested will listen without hurling insults around.

In my experience, feminists have to have extremely high standards in responding to people.

Criticise the girls involved (e.g. lap dancers) and you're trying to stop other women doing what they want to do/betraying the sisterhood.

Attack men and you are a man hater.

You have to be very calm, reasonable and factual. And you will still get a slating if someone isn't prepare to take on board what it is you've said.

Because they hate women. Simples.

Normal men don't get angry and aggressive. They start off being vaguely amused and patronising, get interested, get argumentative, are surprised and thoughtful, combative, challenging, sarcastic, funny, but always engaged.

Because they don't hate women and aren't absolutely determined to hang on to their privilege.

The thing is, a feminist is someone who pulls away the denial screen and uncovers all their sexism. Normal men may feel a bit threatened by that, they may even resent it a bit, but ultimately they respect it. Mysogynists hate it because they have an instinctive understanding that it threatens their privilege, so they become hostile and aggressive whenever they encounter it.

Sorry read this out of curiosity, in response to why women can be hateful towards feminists a large number of these women who I have seen this behaviour from are often women who've spent life getting by on their looks , I think the alternative scares which I imagine it would if its 'your life' I thinks its fear mostly.
Men well mysoginy gives them the advantage, they dont wanna give it up.

just throwing my 2 cents

Agreed Prolesworth

Looking at some of the comments on the Dailyfail article about lads mags it was more the sheer ignorance that got to me than the hatred.

One guy actually eluded to the fact that as long as women are allowed to breastfeed in public, magaizines with topless women should be allowed on show

Because deep-seated misogyny is at the root of most 'harmless' sexism. Attack the manifestations of that sexism and misogynists feel threatened and outraged. I honestly think some sexists (male and female) take the gender status quo as so normal, so fundamental, that they are horrified and angered by any attempt to change things.

FB Page 3 group is here:

www.facebook.com/turnyourbackonpage3?ref=ts

currently has 715 'likes'

There is also a 'Do not turn your back on page 3' group, currently has 268 members

They've deleted my comment which attracted loads of abuse, I don't blame them at all.

Are you david mitchell? (hopes...)

What, me?

Sorry, no

Oh poo.

Because they ate tools. Simples.

Oh and good on you for having a go at them.

Drizzella, what I should have said is - I have his wit but not his looks

LOL now you're selling yourself David

DM isn't the world's greates sex symbol, is he? Lovely though he is.