This is one of many #ThisIsHowSexismEnds prompts, essays, podcasts, memes, interviews, reviews, and articles over the next month that will focus on sexism, gender bias, misogyny, and ending prejudice against women as well as ending toxic hypermasculinity against men (and the overlap attitudes against all of us).
Please visit our page here for updates of who and where to read next! And join our #StopSexism group for weekly discussion and phone calls.
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I have experienced things recently which say to me that sexism and anti-women cultural elements are subtle, insidious and designed, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to wear us down, make us decide we have it “pretty good,” so why fight the tiny injustices?
Here’s why.
The original of the image you see below was altered to read: “If I’m not holding a cock or making a sandwich, my owner lets me play with Frisbees.”
I hope by speaking out, and others speaking out, we create a snowball effect of courage.
On my site, I posted about the Return of Kings website because I had run across it previously. I only learned about this website because an ex-boyfriend of mine that I was friends with on Facebook posted a very sexist meme from the website.
When I pointed out how sexist it was, he told me to “stay in my own lane” (lol).
To my credit, I would like to point out that this was a high school boyfriend, not someone I dated as an adult.
I posted in the Feminist Majority Facebook page that sexism was not dead. It was in response to this statement that sexism reared its head again.
The response I received was a bullying meme of myself.
Sexism is alive.
I hate to send traffic to this horrific website because I suspect that all they really want are hits, but if any of you are interested, Return of Kings is one of the worst examples of misogyny and sexism on the internet.
They post articles about women and the need for traditional gender roles, are anti-gay, anti-woman, classist, and represent just about everything that is wrong with our culture.
Here is an excerpt of their “about” statement:
Return Of Kings is a blog for heterosexual, masculine men. It’s meant for a small but vocal collection of men in America today who believe men should be masculine and women should be feminine.
…Women and homosexuals are strongly discouraged from commenting here.
ROK Community Beliefs:
The ideas and beliefs here are based on neo-masculinity. Here are a few of its principal tenets:1. Men and women are genetically different, both physically and mentally. Sex roles evolved in all mammals. Humans are not exempt.
2. Men will opt out of monogamy and reproduction if there are no incentives to engage in them.
4. Testosterone is the biological cause for masculinity. Environmental changes that reduce the hormone’s concentration in men will cause them to be weaker and more feminine.
5. A woman’s value significantly depends on her fertility and beauty. A man’s value significantly depends on his resources, intellect, and character.
6. Elimination of traditional sex roles and the promotion of unlimited mating choice in women unleashes their promiscuity and other negative behaviors that block family formation.
7. Socialism, feminism, cultural Marxism, and social justice warriorism aim to destroy the family unit, decrease the fertility rate, and impoverish the state through large welfare entitlements.
Honestly, I don’t think I’m special.
I’m a loudmouth for a cause. I will always stand up for what I think is right, no matter what. Sexism is an insidious force in our culture. Because things are “better,” a lot of women feel they just need to sit back and “take it.”
Sometimes I feel beaten down, but I lick my wounds and get back up.
#YesAllWomen
#StopSexism
#ThisIsHowSexismEnds
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This piece originally appeared on OTV Magazine.
Photo by Aidan Meyer on Unsplash
I cannot believe that whoever is publishing this website actually believes what they are presenting! They obviously want comments and controversy. I am a 57 year old man and I think their stated “beliefs” are BS! Everybody has Testosterone in their bodies and according to a doctor friend of mine the amount of Testosterone in your body does not determine how “manly” you are!