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What's The Difference Between Misogynists and Sexists?

Posted by Emily Farris

 

They're all assholes to us, but there's a difference, and Nicholas Kristoff of The New York Times would like to explain it to you.


...in the reporting for this column, I spoke to evolutionary psychologists who emphasized the distinct origins of racism and misogyny/sexism. Racism seems based in a hard-wired tendency of ancient humans to divide into groups to improve odds of survival, and it was an evolutionary advantage to be able to identify strongly with your own tribe and to fear or kill members of other tribes. That may be why even very small children — even infants — draw racial distinctions or other in-group/out-group distinctions.

In contrast, the evolutionary origins of attitudes toward women were based presumably less on hatred and more on desire to control them and impregnate them, so as to pass on one’s genes. Acquiring and enforcing a harem, so as to improve the odds of one’s own genes being passed on, might involve ruthlessness, enslavement and brutal beatings, but there was no evolutionary incentive for gender hatred as there was for hatred of different tribes. And of course much of the anti-women behavior around the world, from genital cutting to bride burnings to sex trafficking, is typically overseen by women themselves, and it’s easier to see their behavior as opportunism or deeply-embedded sexism than as hatred of fellow women. So that’s why I wonder if sexism, in the sense of discriminatory attitudes toward males and females, isn’t a better way of thinking about the issue than misogyny, in the sense of hatred toward women.


Wha? Wha? We said he'd like to, we didn't say he would.

This might help:

Misogyny

Sexism

Or maybe not. We're sure someone (ProfRobert?) can better explain the difference. (And yes, we realize women can be misogynistic and sexist, too, we're just generally not.. we're happy to explain the difference between feminism and sexism when we're typing with both hands again, but you already know.)

[NYT: Misogyny vs. Sexism]


+ DIGG + DEL.ICIO.US + REDDIT

Comments

profrobert said:

Well, since I've been invited . . . .

What I take away from the piece (and I think Kristoff is right definitionally) is that sexism reflects the desire of sexist men to subjugate women to advance themselves; misogyny is just an outright hatred of women.  Sexism has a rational (though of course disgusting) basis; misogyny is an irrational hatred -- misogynists put the detriment of women above their own self-interest.

Here's a slightly facetious example:  I don't hate the Kansas City Royals, but I want them to be subjugated when it advances the interests of my favorite team, the New York Yankees (e.g., when they play each other).  (This corresponds to sexism.)  However, I hate the Boston Red Sox and want to see them lose, lose, lose, even if means that it hurts the Yankees (e.g., the Red Sox are out of contention and playing another team that is challenging the Yankees for the postseason).  (This corresponds to misogyny.)

As for "feminism," I always thought it was synonymous with "humanism."  Hope the wrist is feeling better.

April 9, 2008 2:07 PM

About Emily Farris

Emily Farris writes about culture and food for numerous publications and websites you've probably never heard of, including her own blog eefers. Her first cookbook will be published in fall 2008. Emily lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with her cat, but just one...so far.

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about the blogger

Emily Farris writes about culture and food for numerous publications and websites you've probably never heard of, including her own blog eefers. Her first cookbook will be published in fall 2008. Emily lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with her cat, but just one . . . so far.

Brian Fairbanks is a filmmaker living in the wilds of Brooklyn. He previously wrote for the Hartford Courant and Gawker. He won the Williamsburg Spelling Bee once. He loves cats, women with guns, and burning books.

Nicole Pasulka is a Brooklyn writer and editor who's always on the lookout for the dirty. Her other virtual home is at The Morning News, where things are squeaky clean most of the time.

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