Misanthropy, misogyny, and misandry have driven literary, political, and social movements for centuries. Misandry, or hatred of men as a gender group, has been present in art and literature since ancient Greece and continues today. However, sustained misandry, like misogyny or misanthropy, is viewed as irrational and polarizing. Some suggest that misandry can stem from childhood experiences or sexual trauma, but not all advocates for gender equality are motivated by it.
A deep-seated hatred of the world in general or of the opposite gender in particular has been the driving force behind many literary, political and social movements for thousands of years. Hatred of all mankind is known as misanthropy, while hatred or disrespect for women as a gender group is considered misogyny. When the object of contempt or hatred is men as a gender group, the term is misandry. Examples of literary and social misandry can be traced back to at least the ancient Greeks, with several famous playwrights using hatred of men as the basis of their plays. This theme of misandry continues to the present day in art, literature and politics. The feminist movement of the 1970s, for example, was at least in part fueled by a communal contempt for a male-dominated society.
The difficulty with sustained misandry is the same as with misogyny or sustained misanthropy. While each gender can be safely accused of disrespecting or ignoring the other at times, the negatives generally don’t outweigh the positives. Complete and utter hatred or contempt for the opposite sex, whether in the form of misogyny or misandry, is generally viewed as an irrational or polarizing condition. While the feminist movement of the 1970s achieved many of its goals for gender equality, critics tended to focus on the apparent misandry of some of its organizers and supporters. Some of the movement’s leading literature appeared to promote an anti-male agenda, placing much of the blame for society’s problems on the chauvinistic, female-hating men who dominated it. By taking such a strong anti-male stance, some leaders of the feminist movement risked accusations of reverse bigotry or sexual discrimination.
Both misogyny and misandry suggest a deep distrust or prejudice against the opposite sex. Sometimes a person’s misandry or misogyny can be traced to early childhood experiences or sexual trauma. A woman who grew up in a male-dominated household with an abusive father and passive mother, for example, might develop a very negative impression of men over time. This form of misandry could be reinforced by a pattern of abusive relationships or employment under a controlling male boss. A misandrist often develops an irrational hatred or prejudice towards all men as a result of these oppressive life experiences at the hands of violent or domineering men.
There are some who suggest that some women explore same-sex relationships not out of a natural propensity but out of a sense of misandry. Some women may have originally identified as heterosexual but experience such horrendous abuse from male partners that they develop a sense of hatred towards men in general. It’s important to note, however, that not all advocates for gender equality are motivated by such misandry. As with male misogyny or general misanthropy, true misandry is very difficult to maintain throughout life.
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