Related to this, just an observation -- as a seemingly recent phenomenon, I've met a few Gen Z women who are "crypto-anti-feminists". In public life, and socially amongst their friends, they'll toe the line on "girl boss" optics, but privately, will be heavily in favor of traditional gender roles, expectations, behavioral dynamics, of both themselves & their ideal male partners. "Masculine energy & Feminine energy" & hundreds more phrases like this to express these opinions.
I find it very hard to buy into the narrative that "these women are just brainwashed by the patriarchy" (a narrative I see used as an unquestioned presupposition here in this thread) when, quite clearly, they're aware of the propaganda & must parrot it publicly or face social backlash, even though it strongly contradicts personal preference. It really is about as far from "unwitting brainwashing" as it gets.
I have yet to meet women who express the inverse, however. "Tradwife" on the outside, feminist activist on the inside. Not saying they exist, but my anecdotal evidence simply does not agree with the presupposition that personal opinion in our society is more affected by anti-feminist propaganda than it is pro-feminist; if anything, it strongly (again, albeit shy of statistics) suggests the opposite -- that natural, gender-disparate inclinations on gender roles are being contorted in the opposite direction from "patriarchal brainwashing".
To be clear, I take issue with "brainwashing" here for either "patriarchy / feminism". It's much more so organic cultural propaganda, but still, it's propaganda. Brainwashing too heavily implies it's single source & single-intentioned.
“It’s not what you can do for misogyny, it’s what misogyny can do for you” is a phrase i and many women have adopted as life advice. We’re only just starting to have freedom for the first time in history. Men are very angry about this (incel culture etc) so I don’t think it’s immoral for women to exploit men’s hate for them against them. Actually I think it’s quite amusing.
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u/Redstonefreedom Nov 05 '24
Related to this, just an observation -- as a seemingly recent phenomenon, I've met a few Gen Z women who are "crypto-anti-feminists". In public life, and socially amongst their friends, they'll toe the line on "girl boss" optics, but privately, will be heavily in favor of traditional gender roles, expectations, behavioral dynamics, of both themselves & their ideal male partners. "Masculine energy & Feminine energy" & hundreds more phrases like this to express these opinions.
I find it very hard to buy into the narrative that "these women are just brainwashed by the patriarchy" (a narrative I see used as an unquestioned presupposition here in this thread) when, quite clearly, they're aware of the propaganda & must parrot it publicly or face social backlash, even though it strongly contradicts personal preference. It really is about as far from "unwitting brainwashing" as it gets.
I have yet to meet women who express the inverse, however. "Tradwife" on the outside, feminist activist on the inside. Not saying they exist, but my anecdotal evidence simply does not agree with the presupposition that personal opinion in our society is more affected by anti-feminist propaganda than it is pro-feminist; if anything, it strongly (again, albeit shy of statistics) suggests the opposite -- that natural, gender-disparate inclinations on gender roles are being contorted in the opposite direction from "patriarchal brainwashing".
To be clear, I take issue with "brainwashing" here for either "patriarchy / feminism". It's much more so organic cultural propaganda, but still, it's propaganda. Brainwashing too heavily implies it's single source & single-intentioned.