[TW for the comments to this post; discussions of rape and abuse.]
The Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization devoted to tracking and exposing hate groups, has just published a detailed report on the misogyny and violent rhetoric so pervasive in the Men’s Rights Movement — as well as the actual violence inspired by this sort of hatred of women. It’s a piece you all should read, even though few of the details will be new to long-time readers of this blog.
Arthur Goldwag, an expert on conspiracy-mongers and the far right, argues (I think correctly) that the Men’s Rights movement is largely a backlash against the many successes of feminism over the last several decades:
It’s not much of a surprise that significant numbers of men in Western societies feel threatened by dramatic changes in their roles and that of the family in recent decades. Similar backlashes, after all, came in response to the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, and other major societal revolutions. What is something of a shock is the verbal and physical violence of that reaction.
[Thomas] Ball’s suicide brought attention to an underworld of misogynists, woman-haters whose fury goes well beyond criticism of the family court system, domestic violence laws, and false rape accusations.
The Men’s Rights Movement, as it exists today, is not a civil rights movement; it is a regressive, hateful reaction against a civil rights movement — that is, feminism.
Those who truly care about the rights of men, and who are not motivated by a hatred of women or feminism, need to repudiate the hate and the violent rhetoric of the Men’s Rights Movement as it exists today. Only then can there be a Men’s Rights Movement worthy of the name.
EDITED TO ADD: The SPLC has also put up a guide to some of the more hateful sites in the manosphere. Longtime readers will be familiar with most of them.
EDITED TO ADD AGAIN: And a piece debunking some Men’s Rights Myths.
EDITED TO ADD AGAIN, AGAIN: The discussion of the SPLC report on the Men’s Rights Subreddit is surprisingly reasonable, so far. (I mean, compared to what I expected. Meanwhile, over in this thread, the Men’s Rightsers are behaving as they usually do.)
No. That was easy.
Mouahahahaha!!
@kyrie
So rape isn’t sex that just don’t want then? Glad we cleared that up.
You know, it’s interesting that “Roberta” seems to be so focused on Holly in particular when everyone else here is saying the same things Holly is.
It kinda reminds me of a couple of other trolls. I can’t help but wonder if “Roberta” might be posting out of, say, Boston – because it’s either that or there’s some MRA messageboard where they all sit around plotting ways to collectively obsess over bloggers whose names start with H, or something.
(Also, Holly, I feel bad that you seem to be such a popular hatecrush for these idiots. It’s creepy and weird and I don’t envy you their attention. :-/ )
…
What in the actual fuck is going on?
I have read the thread, along with Roberta’s vomit, and now it’s just as bizarre as the movie “Dead Man”. Only not as entertaining. And victim blame-y. And stupid.
Stop saying this snotty hateful bullshit. You’re full of shit.
You’ve spent the last couple hours playing hoity-toity Internet Lawyer trying to argue that it’s not rape just because a woman doesn’t want it, and now you’re backpedaling to this “feminists think rape is anything ever” strawman and it is legit pissing me off.
Rape is any sex that a person does not want. Period.
If a person has sex when they’re not horny, but they want to (say, to please their partner), that is not rape. If a person has sex that they don’t want, but they say yes (say, because they’re being screamed at and bullied), that is rape. This is not even complicated. If a person has sex that they wanted, but later regrets it, this is not rape AND NO ONE EVER SAID IT WAS.
And no, it probably never will be the law, so you can go high-five all your rapist buddies over that. Congratulations, you’ll probably be able to get away with bullying and badgering people into painfully squeaking out the word “yes” until Judgement Day. Con-fucking-gratulations.
Oh, I didn’t know it was insult time. Turn out the most rational woman in the world is not really a lady after all. 🙂
Please go fuck yourself with a cactus, your rape apologism is sickening and you’re a terrible person. And probably a liar.
The mood has nothing to do with what you want is what I said.
Seriously? Can we get a banhammah around here?
What is someone wants to have sex because they don’t want to die? Say, because someone is holding a gun to their head?
Your imprecise use of language is hilariously stupid. Is it really so unreasonable say that consent is a voluntary agreement to sexual contact? That seems to be what you are essentially arguing anyway.
A Chuck Norris fan I see. As good an argument as anything else you’ve made, so bravo I guess?
Also, y
Also, your willful obtuseness is noted and derided
*damn touchpad
Roberta, go fuck a dictionary until it loves you, I’m done here.
I’m gonna go pick up my boyfriend from work, then probably have sex with him. I almost certainly won’t accuse him of rape.
I KNOW, WILD, RIGHT?
Since Holly mention bullying, here is one of the easiest way you can make a person suffer without risking to go to prison. But you know what? It’s still real. Both the intention and the effect.
Seriously, Roberta, this whole act is stupid, you’re stupid, and you’re acting dickish with two rape victims (jesus, why rape victims? What, is someone else doing kids with cancer?).
Just, please, shut up. Just shut up.
Now, now Shadow – you have to look at it from Roberta’s perspective. I mean, we’re talking about someone who spent a significant portion of their day arguing -and illustrating in repulsive detail- that the most compelling, attractive trait about them is their hypothetical unwillingness to level a false rape accusation. This despite showing that they have no problem engaging in real world dishonesty.
@red_locker
Three actually. LBT, Holly and Polliwog all brought up their assaults to try and crack this particular brick wall
Way to live up to your ideals, holly. You totes should accuse him of rape. Then there would be one less dangerous predator (male) walking the streets. You should also do it just as a matter of general principle. He might not be raping you, but you’re probably a strong-willed woman who’s able to assert your desires in bed.
Who’s to say that he wont have another girlfriend in the future. One who appears to enthusiastically consent when she doesn’t really mean it? I want all hetero males in prison. It’s the only way I’ll feel safe as a woman.
I’m watching The walking Dead as I write this, and so far the zombies sound more human than Roberta. Just sayin’.
@Kyrie
Oh, go accuse someone of rape.
Roberta, I’m fairly sure you’re not really a woman, and you’re also offensively stupid.
Well, offensively fake-stupid. I’m sure you’re real-stupid as well, but the part where you pretend to not know the difference between “making someone have sex with you when they don’t want it is rape” and “men having sex is rape”?
Is fake-stupid, and you’re real-stupid for thinking that anyone here is going to fall for it for a second.
Bye now, for real. You know why I’m not going to accuse my boyfriend of rape?
Because he has sex with me when he’s sure we both want it, not any time he could possibly get away with it. Why, there are times no jury would convict him and yet he still doesn’t make me have sex with him! Wacky, huh?
Why?
Lies, filthy lies!! Where’s his male heterosexuality?!! Where have you hidden it?!!
Who is Roberta even arguing against anymore?
Because the only person it’s working against is Roberta.
Roberta should work in Dickens’ Circumlocution Office. Truly, she is a natural.