Misogyny: What is learned is learned | BRIGITTE.de

Misogyny is a phenomenon that is often blamed on men in particular. However, the truth is that Women treat each other just as disparagingly towards each other or towards the female gender in general – it is a social problem and as such is firmly internalized. It’s not just the so-called incels who reject women. Many of us reject being a woman or feminine attributes themselves. We compete with each other, fighting to see which of us is tougher or stronger. We learn that from an early age Male attributes are seen as those that move you forward and guarantee success.

“I’m not like other women, I’m different” is therefore a popular sentence of the so-called ‘Pick Me’ girls – whose name is basically as misogynistic as the behavior itself. They are a classic example of internalized misogyny. ‘Pick Me’ girls distance themselves from “typical” female interests and hope to be perceived as more attractive by the male gender. In addition, they are also interested in “typically” male activities in order to attract the attention of the male gender.

What does “internalized misogyny” mean?

Misogyny refers to a deep-seated dislike of women who experience intense feelings of Hatred, reluctance or prejudice is rooted. They can manifest themselves both on a personal level and as institutionalized, systematic discrimination occurs. On a personal level, misogyny can be expressed physically, verbally, psychologically or economically and has an impact on both individual relationships and social structures. Misogyny can manifest itself, for example, through derogatory comments, domestic violence and sexual harassment, threats, manipulation and psychological violence.

This rejection is referred to as “internalized” when It happens subtly and determines our thoughts and actions (almost) unnoticed. It’s about the devaluation of everything that is generally considered feminine. The term “internalized” means the internalized pattern of thinking and behavior that is so firmly anchored in us that we often do not recognize it or question it. In concrete terms, this means that women too unconsciously internalize misogynistic prejudices and stereotypes transmitted by society and also direct them against other women or themselves. Those affected often don’t even know that they are stuck in these thought patterns and unconsciously reproduce them again and again.

Where does the socially anchored hatred of women come from?

Misogyny has long-standing roots; it is shaped by centuries of patriarchy, i.e. male dominance. For a long time, women were considered less valuable and inferior than men. This was evident in many areas of social life, from Distribution of tasks in the family, to political participation, to education. Even today, women are often told that they have certain roles to fulfill, be it as mothers, housewives or in a relationship. This leads to women unconsciously learning to adopt and internalize misogynistic attitudes.

Sociocultural factors play an important role in the development of misogyny. In many cultures there are deeply rooted patriarchal norms and behavior patterns that promote the emergence of misogyny. This includes:

The influence of these socio-cultural aspects is so profound that Unconscious attitudes and prejudices towards women are often consolidated.

Misogyny and language

We grow up with a lot of negative descriptions of women. Women with make-up are chicks, angry women are furies, confident women are bitches. Women who do not enter marriage as virgins are sluts, if their nose is not perfect or their hair is red they are witches and if a woman wears her hair short she is of course a lesbian. Even nasty insults often have a feminine connotation. Anyone who wants to insult a person who reads as male uses terms like “pussy” or “son of a bitch”, which shows how negative the prevailing image of women is. The man is seen as weak and is therefore called a “pussy”, and if you want to hit him really hard, you are humiliating his mother and thus him too. An even harsher insult refers to the female genital organ; it is mainly used against women and is usually considered the greatest possible derogation – Femininity is particularly undervalued.

The The positive role models we grow up with often need help or rescue, for example, Disney princesses are not as strong as men, they need men. They must be freed from a dungeon or kissed awake from a passive state in order to then fulfill their role. The female characters in stories and films often lack depth – Social narratives are often negative, one-dimensional and discouraging. This leads us to want to prove our multidimensionality, show our individuality to the outside world and set ourselves apart. To avoid the stereotype, we despise other women.

How does “internalized misogyny” manifest itself?

Internalized misogyny can take various forms. These include, for example, devaluing other women, adopting stereotypical roles and behaviors, or advocating misogynistic attitudes and actions. It can lead to that Women consider their own gender to be less competent or capable and prefer men. Internalized misogyny often manifests itself in… Self-doubt and low self-esteem. Women tend to downplay their abilities and achievements. They constantly compare themselves with other women and consider themselves inferior if they do not conform to certain social or external norms. She may accept and promote traditional gender roles and normseven if these restrict or discriminate against themselves or other women.

‘Pick Me’ girls

A well-known behavior known as Result of internalized misogyny can be viewed is the attitude of so-called ‘pick-me’ girls. At this point it must be said that This term is also derogatory and should be avoided. However, the phenomenon itself is interesting. ‘Pick me’ girls tend to present themselves as To represent and highlight “different from other women”.. Above all, they want to be perceived by men in order to appear more attractive. They emphasize (supposed) characteristics that do not correspond to the socially influenced, typically female stereotype. With it devalue female stereotypes and negate them. For example, they say they love video games and would rather play games than watch The Bachelor with friends. In general, they much prefer to be friends with men because they are less “complicated” and “bitchy”. They prefer drinking beer to Prosecco and prefer skating to shopping. All this to be more attractive to men or to be better received by them. The ‘Pick-me’ girls show perfectly how much women themselves hate women and being a woman or perceive them as inferior due to learned patterns.

Why is “internalized misogyny” problematic?

Internalized misogyny hinders gender equality and prevents women from developing their full potential. It can lead to women devaluing themselves and other women, finding themselves in subordinate roles and themselves do not dare to stand up for their rights. This not only has a negative impact on the self-image and self-esteem of the women affected, but can also lead to developments inhibit overcoming this problem.

What are typical behaviors for “internalized misogyny”?

Typical behaviors for internalized misogyny can include:

Internalized misogyny is a deep-rooted and complex problem, which cannot be solved overnight. But through Education, self-reflection and solidarity Women can learn to free themselves from these thought patterns and support each other in order to work together for a fairer and more equal society.

Sources:

Bridget