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Logan Heron's avatar

This is so goddamn good. Writing with real teeth to it. You can feel it take a bite right out of you.

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Rachel's avatar

yeah, existing as a woman can be really hard. I don't know how the hell we fix all the indoctrination that has been going on the past few years. it's easier than ever to spread propaganda and people are being exposed to it younger and younger.

as for the question of why the violence? we're not supposed to be fully formed beings. to a misogynist, the only good woman is one who exists solely to please the men around her -- can't have our own thoughts and opinions and desires, because we're just an extension of them. I mean, that's what successful propaganda does, right? make people think that those they can categorize as "the other" are somehow not as human as them. there are a lot of people who have superiority complexes and need to feel like they are better than the rest of us -- ego is a large part of this equation as well, I think.

I also think there's a certain level of brainwashing we all go thru to exist in this capitalistic white supremacist society, so a not insignificant number of people are kind of predisposed to fall into these far right conspiracy theories. I remember one of the readings I did for my intro gender studies course saying that once you start seeing the propaganda for what it is, the world falls off its axis. for a lot of people, it's easier (and more comforting) to double down and retreat further into these far right communities than to start unraveling the lies they've internalized. we are very stubborn species (unfortunately) and people don't like feeling like they are wrong, so they need to force the world to match their beliefs.

and while your mom isn't wrong when she says not all men are like this -- it is a *choice* to buy into the propaganda, not anything inherent to being a man! -- I hate when it's brought up in these conversations. bc the reminder doesn't offer anything on how to fix the problem, it feels like it's just a way to try to minimize things and stop the conversation all together.

I feel like this is the most I've rambled in a comment. I'm sure this is ridiculously long -- sorry! Anyway. love you and I hope it's a better day when you see this 💗

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