Intro
I decided to write this blog to fill a gap in the social landscape and media where certain perceptions of genders seem to be very one sided and one dimensional. In particular the depiction of men and women in the media, and the claims of system discrimination against a particular gender.
It has seemed to me lately that there is a distinct lack in voices supporting men. Very few point out stereotyped, harmful, or even hateful depictions of men. On the other hand, there are no shortages of discussions about depictions of women. There are plenty of analyses, commentators and influencers trying to find and expose misogyny or sexism against women. Perhaps even too much. It has become almost a sport to analyse and search for this so much as to often find potential examples that are really not there, existing more in the interpretation than in the original medium. There is a support structure for women in western society that men could only dream of.
Conversely, men have very few avenues to talk about these issues. Even if they do so, they are often ridiculed away, dismissed under the assumption that women have it worse, and in some occasions even accused of misogyny for simply being perceived as being too supportive of men, or taking the "male side" of an apparent, imagined, war currently raging between the genders.
Upon observation of various forms of media, I took a habit of 'reversing the genders' of a particular situation in TV, movies, news, social media threads. After doing so, I have found innumerable examples of behaviour that would be considered appalling if a women were on the receiving side. However it is accepted and considered normal when men are the victims.
I do not wish to downplay misogyny or sexism against women. But there are plenty of voices already working against that. I simple want to provide an alternative voice, one that supports men as well.
I hope to provide some food for thought in the following posts.
It has seemed to me lately that there is a distinct lack in voices supporting men. Very few point out stereotyped, harmful, or even hateful depictions of men. On the other hand, there are no shortages of discussions about depictions of women. There are plenty of analyses, commentators and influencers trying to find and expose misogyny or sexism against women. Perhaps even too much. It has become almost a sport to analyse and search for this so much as to often find potential examples that are really not there, existing more in the interpretation than in the original medium. There is a support structure for women in western society that men could only dream of.
Conversely, men have very few avenues to talk about these issues. Even if they do so, they are often ridiculed away, dismissed under the assumption that women have it worse, and in some occasions even accused of misogyny for simply being perceived as being too supportive of men, or taking the "male side" of an apparent, imagined, war currently raging between the genders.
Upon observation of various forms of media, I took a habit of 'reversing the genders' of a particular situation in TV, movies, news, social media threads. After doing so, I have found innumerable examples of behaviour that would be considered appalling if a women were on the receiving side. However it is accepted and considered normal when men are the victims.
I do not wish to downplay misogyny or sexism against women. But there are plenty of voices already working against that. I simple want to provide an alternative voice, one that supports men as well.
I hope to provide some food for thought in the following posts.
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