Anita Tweeted this last month and it does not appear to have been covered so I thought I'd bring it up for discussion:
https://twitter.com/femfreq/status/533445611543363585
[tweet t=http://twitter.com/femfreq/status/533445611543363585]
In case she ever decides to back down and delete it:
"There?s no such thing as sexism against men. That's because sexism is prejudice + power. Men are the dominant gender with power in society."
What she is trying to talk about is that because she views men as having the power in society that sexism against men doesn't exist if sexism is to be defined as power+gender-based prejudice. The implication being that women do no hold institutional power. This is an attempt to redefine a term in a way that prevents people from being able to use it if they were born male. The attempt to redefine it to rob male victims of sexism as being able to call it such should be seen as atrocious.
I find this to be terribly sexist. Implying that all women are powerless and have no control over government or society while all men are in power and have absolute control is not only stereotyping individuals but making the insane claim that gender-based hatred that we call sexism only exists if you were born one way. It is somewhat disgusting that this hasn't been covered in media, honestly. This is a significant step away from gender equality into misandry. This kind of sexism in all it's forms should be reported on and despised by civil society. This doesn't harm the cause of equality itself, but it should certainly tarnish her own personal reputation.
I've noticed other individuals begin to start inserting the "power" bit as being necessary to be sexist or racist. It's about as nonsensical as claiming that Hispanic individuals can't be racist against black individuals because they're not in power. Of course racially based hatred and gender based hatred can come from anyone of any race or gender. And members of all races and genders can absolutely have enough power to negatively impact others base on their prejudices. How bigoted to claim otherwise, seriously.
The attempt to redefine terms like sexism or racism to meet one's own condition is crazy. Sexism is not defined as one having power. It is "prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex." (google search: Sexism definition) Simple as that. If you are stereotyping, prejudiced for/against, or practicing discrimination towards an individual based on their sex, then you are sexist. You could be a female CEO of a massive corporation or some guy in a trailer park with no legs and still accomplish being a sexist bigot. Institutional sexism which does require power can be accomplished by anyone against anyone under which they have control. A female manager can choose not to hire a person because they're male just as easily as a male manager can do the opposite and both would be easy examples of institutions in which power+prejudice are accomplished.
What's more is that men commit sexism against other men. That is the most blatant contradiction for Anita. Some laws and regulations are absolutely in place to harm men. That's direct institutional power. There are also significant cultural/social stereotypes and prejudices that negatively impact real people's lives all the time.
Instances of Institutional Sexism and Social Sexism:
-Men are expected to be the one who pays for date nights even though women have full access to income now.
-In some countries (UK, for the most recent example) and certain industries, men ages 20-30 make less than their female counterparts without any explanation besides sexism. This is largely ignored because the disparity flips at older age ranges as other factors start to take effect.
-Men are commonly shown less compassion than females starting at an early age.
-A blind eye is frequently turned towards men who suffer from domestic violence regarding women who hit men while a spotlight is shone on men who hit women. (I have been in an abusive relationship where the girl would full-out punch me, knowing that even though I am immensely stronger than her that I would not strike back because of gender roles. It is not socially acceptable for me to acknowledge it or that it does hurt both emotionally and physically even though it may not hurt as much physically as a dude my size taking the swing)
-Men are expected to work longer hours, relocate more frequently, take on more dangerous assignments, in addition to keeping a smaller portion of their check due to common obligations (for example, I pay my household's bills out of my paycheck while my wife's paycheck is for spending and savings, this is a common practice in which males may not have as ready access to their partner's bank account as I do)
-Men are required to sign up for military draft and women are not.
-Men are expected to risk their lives in situations of confrontation or danger to protect others and are considered cowards if they fail to do so.
-Men have fewer scholarship opportunities than women to the point that women graduating with degrees now outweigh males graduating with degrees.
-Aside from just domestic violence, it is more socially acceptable for violence to occur against men than it is against women (For example, GTA 5 was not taken off the shelves of target and kmart because of violence against people, it was removed for violence against women even though GTA's story-based violence is almost entirely against men if not entirely so. This sends the message that Target and Kmart are ok with violence against men)
-Women get preferential treatment in custody hearings and divorce settlements.
-Males are expected to be taller, smarter, more athletic and make more money than his spouse and is thought less of when he fails in any of those areas.
-Males are conditioned to not admit weakness or express emotions.
-Males are significantly more likely to commit suicide than females (4 times more likely). Most of the reasons for this disparity are generally considered social pressures and expectations that place men at a disadvantage where seeking social support is concerned.
-Male on male violence is treated as a sport and men who don't participate in it are frequently looked down on by their peers.
-While males do suffer rape (particularly in prison), there is even more stigma towards males admitting it than females due to the additional societal demand of males not showing weakness.
-There are certain jobs that men are still looked down on as being feminine, very similar to jobs that women are culturally discouraged from taking. (I have a personal story to tell you about the time I made straight-As in premed before announcing that I was interested in becoming a Nurse for a few years before going full-doctor. It may be telling that I am now in computer sciences as to how that announcement turned out)
-Light forms of male subservience (helping others carry heavy objects, opening a door, etc) are seen as chivalrous/gentlemanly and not generally required to be reciprocated.
-Men who commit the same crime a woman commits will face harsher punishments.
-Males are expected to forgo basic comforts so that women can enjoy them (sitting down, going first in line or through a door, and various small but still existent things).
Sexism and Institutional Sexism do exist against men.
https://twitter.com/femfreq/status/533445611543363585
[tweet t=http://twitter.com/femfreq/status/533445611543363585]
In case she ever decides to back down and delete it:
"There?s no such thing as sexism against men. That's because sexism is prejudice + power. Men are the dominant gender with power in society."
What she is trying to talk about is that because she views men as having the power in society that sexism against men doesn't exist if sexism is to be defined as power+gender-based prejudice. The implication being that women do no hold institutional power. This is an attempt to redefine a term in a way that prevents people from being able to use it if they were born male. The attempt to redefine it to rob male victims of sexism as being able to call it such should be seen as atrocious.
I find this to be terribly sexist. Implying that all women are powerless and have no control over government or society while all men are in power and have absolute control is not only stereotyping individuals but making the insane claim that gender-based hatred that we call sexism only exists if you were born one way. It is somewhat disgusting that this hasn't been covered in media, honestly. This is a significant step away from gender equality into misandry. This kind of sexism in all it's forms should be reported on and despised by civil society. This doesn't harm the cause of equality itself, but it should certainly tarnish her own personal reputation.
I've noticed other individuals begin to start inserting the "power" bit as being necessary to be sexist or racist. It's about as nonsensical as claiming that Hispanic individuals can't be racist against black individuals because they're not in power. Of course racially based hatred and gender based hatred can come from anyone of any race or gender. And members of all races and genders can absolutely have enough power to negatively impact others base on their prejudices. How bigoted to claim otherwise, seriously.
The attempt to redefine terms like sexism or racism to meet one's own condition is crazy. Sexism is not defined as one having power. It is "prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex." (google search: Sexism definition) Simple as that. If you are stereotyping, prejudiced for/against, or practicing discrimination towards an individual based on their sex, then you are sexist. You could be a female CEO of a massive corporation or some guy in a trailer park with no legs and still accomplish being a sexist bigot. Institutional sexism which does require power can be accomplished by anyone against anyone under which they have control. A female manager can choose not to hire a person because they're male just as easily as a male manager can do the opposite and both would be easy examples of institutions in which power+prejudice are accomplished.
What's more is that men commit sexism against other men. That is the most blatant contradiction for Anita. Some laws and regulations are absolutely in place to harm men. That's direct institutional power. There are also significant cultural/social stereotypes and prejudices that negatively impact real people's lives all the time.
Instances of Institutional Sexism and Social Sexism:
-Men are expected to be the one who pays for date nights even though women have full access to income now.
-In some countries (UK, for the most recent example) and certain industries, men ages 20-30 make less than their female counterparts without any explanation besides sexism. This is largely ignored because the disparity flips at older age ranges as other factors start to take effect.
-Men are commonly shown less compassion than females starting at an early age.
-A blind eye is frequently turned towards men who suffer from domestic violence regarding women who hit men while a spotlight is shone on men who hit women. (I have been in an abusive relationship where the girl would full-out punch me, knowing that even though I am immensely stronger than her that I would not strike back because of gender roles. It is not socially acceptable for me to acknowledge it or that it does hurt both emotionally and physically even though it may not hurt as much physically as a dude my size taking the swing)
-Men are expected to work longer hours, relocate more frequently, take on more dangerous assignments, in addition to keeping a smaller portion of their check due to common obligations (for example, I pay my household's bills out of my paycheck while my wife's paycheck is for spending and savings, this is a common practice in which males may not have as ready access to their partner's bank account as I do)
-Men are required to sign up for military draft and women are not.
-Men are expected to risk their lives in situations of confrontation or danger to protect others and are considered cowards if they fail to do so.
-Men have fewer scholarship opportunities than women to the point that women graduating with degrees now outweigh males graduating with degrees.
-Aside from just domestic violence, it is more socially acceptable for violence to occur against men than it is against women (For example, GTA 5 was not taken off the shelves of target and kmart because of violence against people, it was removed for violence against women even though GTA's story-based violence is almost entirely against men if not entirely so. This sends the message that Target and Kmart are ok with violence against men)
-Women get preferential treatment in custody hearings and divorce settlements.
-Males are expected to be taller, smarter, more athletic and make more money than his spouse and is thought less of when he fails in any of those areas.
-Males are conditioned to not admit weakness or express emotions.
-Males are significantly more likely to commit suicide than females (4 times more likely). Most of the reasons for this disparity are generally considered social pressures and expectations that place men at a disadvantage where seeking social support is concerned.
-Male on male violence is treated as a sport and men who don't participate in it are frequently looked down on by their peers.
-While males do suffer rape (particularly in prison), there is even more stigma towards males admitting it than females due to the additional societal demand of males not showing weakness.
-There are certain jobs that men are still looked down on as being feminine, very similar to jobs that women are culturally discouraged from taking. (I have a personal story to tell you about the time I made straight-As in premed before announcing that I was interested in becoming a Nurse for a few years before going full-doctor. It may be telling that I am now in computer sciences as to how that announcement turned out)
-Light forms of male subservience (helping others carry heavy objects, opening a door, etc) are seen as chivalrous/gentlemanly and not generally required to be reciprocated.
-Men who commit the same crime a woman commits will face harsher punishments.
-Males are expected to forgo basic comforts so that women can enjoy them (sitting down, going first in line or through a door, and various small but still existent things).
Sexism and Institutional Sexism do exist against men.
