Antifeminism

Main

Anti-feminism is opposition to some or all forms of feminism. At its core, anti-feminism rejects the notion that current social arrangements between men and women are unjust and need to be transformed. Anti-feminists believe that differences between men and women's social roles are natural, divinely ordained, or beneficial to society.

Anti-feminism can take many forms, ranging from intellectual disagreement with specific feminist ideas to more extreme and even brutal actions against women's rights and safety. Some anti-feminists engage in respectful debate, while others resort to harassment, threats, and violence to silence and intimidate feminists.

For example, in the early 20th century, anti-feminists in England opposed women's admission to universities, arguing that higher education would undermine women's essential domestic roles which they saw as crucial to a well-functioning society.

Terms

• Feminism: The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. Anti-feminists often characterize feminism as a radical ideology that seeks to upend natural gender roles and societal stability.

• Gender roles: Society's expectations of how men and women should behave. Anti-feminists typically view traditional gender roles, with men as providers and women as homemakers, as natural and necessary for social harmony.

• Patriarchy: A system where men hold primary power. While feminists critique patriarchy, many anti-feminists either deny the existence of patriarchy or view male leadership as natural and beneficial.

Analogy

If society is like a human body, anti-feminists see feminism as a virus attacking the body's natural, healthy state. They believe each part of the body (men and women) needs to perform its designated role for the whole system to function properly. Feminism, in their view, throws this natural order out of balance, leading to sickness and dysfunction in the social body.

Misconception

A common misconception is that all anti-feminists are misogynists who hate women. While some certainly are, many anti-feminists are women who earnestly believe that traditional gender roles serve the best interests of women, men, and society as a whole.

For example, conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly successfully campaigned against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s, arguing it would disadvantage housewives by sending them into the workforce and even potentially into combat.

History

1. Late 1800s: Anti-feminists oppose women's suffrage, asserting that women's roles are domestic and that giving them the vote would lead to social upheaval.

2. Early 1900s: As women seek access to universities and professions, anti-feminists warn that this will make women unfit for their traditional roles as wives and mothers.

3. 1960s-1970s: A resurgence of feminism faces backlash, with anti-feminists arguing that feminist ideas threaten the traditional family unit which they see as the bedrock of society.

4. 1980s-Today: Some argue that feminism has gone too far in altering gender roles, leading to a crisis of masculinity and the breakdown of the family. This becomes a rallying cry for the religious right and men's rights activists.

How to use it

1. Liam reads an article claiming that the gender pay gap is a feminist myth used to villainize men. As an anti-feminist, he finds this argument compelling, believing that pay differences reflect natural differences in men and women's occupational choices and priorities rather than discrimination.

2. Olivia's classmate says he's not a feminist because he thinks feminism today is about female superiority, not equality. Olivia recognizes this as a common anti-feminist position, but rather than arguing, she suggests some moderate feminist writings for him to consider.

3. At Thanksgiving, Ethan's uncle rants that feminism has made men unnecessary and that women should embrace their natural roles as nurturers. While Ethan disagrees, he understands that his uncle sees traditional gender roles as crucial for family and societal stability, a typical anti-feminist concern.

Facts

• In the early 1900s, anti-feminists in England vandalized classrooms and sent hate mail to women attending university lectures, trying to intimidate them into leaving.

• In the 1910s, anti-suffrage propaganda claimed most suffragettes were unattractive, unfeminine women who couldn't find husbands - an attempt to discredit them as unnatural women.

• Prominent anti-feminist activist Phyllis Schlafly once said "virtuous women are seldom accosted" in response to feminist anti-rape campaigns, implying women invite sexual assault by being unchaste.

• Some modern anti-feminists argue that feminism is to blame for rising rates of depression and unhappiness in women by encouraging them to prioritize career over family.

• Anti-feminist online spaces often promote traditional gender roles and criticize feminism as a destructive ideology. Some, like the "manosphere", blend anti-feminism with male grievance and misogyny.