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Sexism is the assertion that one sex is inferior to the other, usually because of or alongside assertion of stereotypes of that gender. Misogyny is the hatred
by pstack 13y ago
Sexism is the assertion that one sex is inferior to the other, usually because of or alongside assertion of stereotypes of that gender.
Misogyny is the hatred of women.
Neither word really has anything to do with being attracted to the sexuality of the other gender. Neither word really has anything to do with simply being unkind, mean, or insensitive. Unfortunately, we often seem to throw these labels on people (labels which stick and aren't too dissimilar from calling someone a racist or homophobe) when they're not really relevant. Having a poster of a sexualized woman or buying videogames with attractive women on the poster or laughing at a joke about the other gender or saying a particular person of the other gender is an idiot are -- while unkind and inconsiderate -- not generally matters of discrimination, superiority, or "hate".
Frankly, I feel we do a disservice to the value of these words in describing actual sexism and actual (but rare) misogyny by throwing them at everything under the sun that makes someone a little uncomfortable or is anything short of respectful. Of course, even suggesting that we should be more careful of our use of these words, I am now probably both of them.
- chris_wot 13y agoYou do not have a fully defined view of sexism there. One other part of sexism is sexual objectification, which reduces the person or whole gender to an instrument of sexual pleasure, without any view of the person's dignity or humanity.
- WayneDB 13y agoNobody was reduced to that though. What fun would a pair of tits floating in the air be? I'd rather stare at tits that are attached to a whole woman.
- chris_wot 13y agoI have no idea what you are talking about.
- WayneDB 13y agoYou said "One other part of sexism is sexual objectification, which reduces the person or whole gender to an instrument of sexual pleasure." And I said that nobody was reduced to being just a sexual object.
- sp332 13y agoThe screen literally just had tits. The whole point of the app was to look at tits. There was nothing else of a woman involved. They really did just take the "tits" part and exclude the rest!
- WayneDB 13y agoYeah, great argument. So if you hear a drum, you have no concept of a drummer? No, you're right - men who see just a pair of tits think "that's all I need - nothing attached, just the tits pleaze, tyvm."
- sp332 13y agoI'm not talking about every guy on the planet. But I think it's very clear that whoever made this app thought, "Know what? We should make an app that just has tits. Nothing else, just tits." More to the point: the women are being used in a way that is completely determined by the user of the app, instead of being given any kind of consideration as people.
- WayneDB 13y agoTits are part of people. I have tits. People have tits and I like people and I like their tits. Without people, there are no tits. How many different ways can I say this? I don't like tits that are disconnected from people. That's disgusting. If I am staring at a woman's tits - I am certainly giving her whole person my consideration, even though my eyes can only look at one thing at a time. WTF would I do with just a pair of tits? No, the reason I'm looking is that I probably want more.
- pstack 13y agoI just don't share the black-and-white view of the world that you may. Objectification can be a component of sexism, but in and of itself is not sexist. It is a natural part of human existence demonstrated by both genders on a regular basis in a variety of ways. It is even the entire foundation of initial human attraction. It is not inherently wrong. Men and women dance at strip clubs. They objectify the customers and the customers objectify the strippers. Hell, my butcher is an object that gives me steak for money and that is all we know of each other. That's okay. You are not obligated to regard everyone as a whole all the time. We need to stop asserting that every interaction with each person (real or fictional, in person or entertainment) requires a holistic appreciation of every atom of their humanity. If you objectify all human beings, you share a common trait of sociopaths. If the entirety of your view and interaction with the other gender is based on objectification, then you are probably sexist and have serious issues to deal with. If neither of these are the case, then you are probably a normal human being.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]