[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.)
Mags, I couldn’t help noticing you’re going out of your way to find out who wrote the SPLC article.
http://www.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/qnxyb/til_southern_poverty_law_center_thinks/c3z4zif
Trying to get some brownie points with Elam by doxxing someone free of charge? Why not hold out for the 1000bux he’ll inevitably offer for the e-lynching of another “bigot?”
And you wanted to donate to Manboobz anonymously. Coward.
AVfM has now responded: http://www.avoiceformen.com/a-voice-for-men/an-open-letter-to-richard-cohen-of-the-splc/
Typically florid quotes:
and
That last, directed to the SPLC, is almost delicious.
Helpfully available as a .pdf download. Thanks, Paul E.!
@Xardox,
tonight, I am going to refrain from the pissing contests that I get sucked into here at MBz. I always start out nicely, and get attacked by people like you. So, hence, and therfore, I won’t comment. I will say, that the person that wrote it should take responsibility for their article if they are going to slander everybody on /r/mensrights.
Cordially,
Magz
Also, check out the reply from AgentMRAOrangeMRMBBQ — possible Elam sockpuppet, who released dox* on radical messageboard feminists he deemed a threat to public safety.
* I forget, did he go through with releasing actual identifying information? I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t, because he’s a coward as well.
@Ma99ie
Er, have you read and understood the purpose of this blog?
How is it necessary to doxx the dude who wrote the SPLC article? He’s a published author, and his name is right at the top.
Why don’t you want to accept responsibility for all your “FURST!!” posts? Cya later Mags, good luck getting another person harassed by a bunch of maniacs.
No….there is the one that mentions /r/mensrights that has no author. There are three articles in the issue. Two have authors.
Good night sweet Xardoz. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Until we meet again. hugs and kisses.
Mags, the author’s name is on the article; I would imagine he wrote the sidebar as well. That’s generally how it works. The two people who wrote the MRA myths piece are also identified.
Hint: If at the top of the page just before an article starts, you see the word “by,” generally what follows that is the name of the author.
Hope that helps!
Bylines – how do they work?
And Fidelbogen’s comment on AVfM post is good too:
David, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but can you tell me on this -> http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2012/spring/misogyny-the-sites page where the author is. Maybe I’m just missing it.
Particularly for a movement composed almost entirely of trolls :p
David, as I always say, it’s aways a good idea not to start out the conversation with veiled condescension.
So, hence, and therfore, I won’t comment.
Good night sweet Xardoz. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Until we meet again. hugs and kisses.
Sticking the flounce, are we?
I’ve never even heard of fidelbogen. Did SPLC get that one wrong? He clearly can’t think straight, tno. Why would a site exposing a hate group like the KKK be wrong? That’s not a double standard if SPLC doesn’t care about anti-KKK sites.
Also if he has so much evidence that feminism is a hate group like the KKK, why doesn’t he hand over that evidence to the Southern Poverty Law Center for review instead of skwaking about being listed? It’s clear that he does not believe his own crap.
OH and fidelbogen… try googling Lepine and Elam. Wait, I did it for you.
http://www.avoiceformen.com/feminism/feminist-governance-feminism/descent-into-madness-and-marc-lepine/
Having said all that, I wonder why SPLC included this gentleman here? I believe that their paragraphs describing sites should have at least one example of why they were chosen.
I consider feminism to be on a par with the KKK or any similarly odious thing.
You wanna talk about “…in need of justification.”?
I am indeed. As the other attorney on this board, don’t underestimate the power of the dark side.
I posted a link, is that why my comment was held up? It was to an article on Lepine by Elam showing that there is a link, against what Fidel was claiming.
Ok magdelyn, we know you hate women, especially feminists and everyone else. You have proven it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Hopefully the MRAs that you come closest to liking will now like you back.
Or maybe not, because those guys do not seem to like anyone.
Gad, they’re so melodramatic! Almost like “feminists” with the vapors!
Here’s Fidelbogen again:
He is totally serious.
I am beginning to see what inspired David’s mockery, which I enjoy so much.
(Insomnia again. Sucks.)
They’re trying to use Dred Scott to attack the SPLC? These people have no sense of irony.
Well, Bostonian, I understand that you are not my biggest fan in the world. But, as I’ve said, today, I am being all sunshine and lollipops. The last few times I’ve been on here, the conversation devolves into a clash of snark.
There is so much fail to this flounce.