Word of the day: misandry
I thought that the matricide episode was some sort of a Mother’s Day special. But then some awfully violent treatment of Lois came up again tonight during reruns. And it got me thinking that despite Family Guy’s frequently extreme misogyny, my delight with the show continues to increase. This got me wondering: what would this show be like without the hatred of women?
And then I thought, what’s the word for hatred of men? I looked it up: it’s “misandry”. Why don’t we know it? Perhaps because women aren’t that hateful towards men? Or if we are, we haven’t had the power in the last few centuries to exercise it?
I suppose that rather than longing for an increase in the familiarity of the word “misandry” in our culture, I should hope for a decrease in the prevalence of misogyny. Meanwhile, I can’t get enough of little Stewie. Damn men.
steffan said,
May 15, 2008 at 6:48 am
Misaandry is very much in existance in this country. Sometimes people are unaware of that which is right in front of them. When you google the word misandry see how many sites come up and check them out. Think about that which you might see everyday. If you are watching TV — how many times do you see a show that portrays men, dad and boys in a positive light ? Do you remember the Duke lacrosse scandal ? How about “take your daughters to work day” ?
Ruth said,
May 15, 2008 at 7:52 am
Thanks for your comment, Steffan. I don’t follow the “take your daughters to work day” reference.
Judge Rufus Peckham said,
May 15, 2008 at 8:05 am
“Misogyny” is a word used so indiscrimately, and usually inappropriately, that it has lost all it’s power. Not all unfair gender stereotyping against women is “misogyny,” and not all unfair gender stereotyping against men is “misandry.” The family law courts’ adherence to the tender years doctrine despite its statutory abolition, for example, is unfair gender steretoyping against men, but it’s not necessarily hatred of males as a gender. In contrast, NOW’s oppostion to the presumption of shared parenting (a concept NOW formerly supported), using as its rationale for opposing it the stereotype of men as abusers, is misandry, pure and simple. As a culture, more men view women as sex objects than the reverse, and more women view men as “success” objects than the reverse. When everyone realizes that unfair gender stereotyping works both ways, and that it’s all bad, we’ll all be better off.
Ruth said,
May 15, 2008 at 9:28 am
Judge, thank you. I’m surprised by the thoughtful & intelligent responses to this post so far.
As I’ve been getting ready for work today, I’ve had this train of thought going that started with distinguishing between hatred and gender stereotyping . . . skipped forward to the violence I see on (my beloved) Family Guy . . . wishing I could take a pop culture class in school about these great animated comedies . . . and ended with this: For whatever reason, I’ve always presumed that Wile E. Coyote, Road Runner, Tom, and Jerry were male.
wineymomma said,
May 15, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Wow—you are attracting a whole new group of readers! Don’t forget Elmer Fudd and Foghorn Leghorn!
notgoth said,
May 17, 2008 at 6:11 am
good food for thought post!
I have always wondered why the ‘worst’ swear word in our culture is a name for a female body part… same principle really.
Stewie is my favourite character too - if you haven’t try see the flash forward episode when he grows up..
sjsmart said,
May 18, 2008 at 3:15 am
Scott loves this show and I admit I really haven’t given it a fair chance. Maybe I’ll reconsider.
Ruth - I think Steffan was saying that there isn’t a take your sons to work day….maybe?
NG - I agree that word is HORRIBLE! I cringe everytime I hear it.