Where does misogyny come from?

[Deidre]

I would say that it is a product of the Animus of women--if you carefully observe misogynist practices in different cultures, you will see a definite pattern of women enforcing the nomos of patriarchy and misogynist practices--usually by women with undeveloped animus, who believe to possess "absolute truth," and enforce it as such.

Jung for Dummies: Animus Planet

Anima and animus - Wikipedia

This is seriously fascinating!

 

[Revoltingest]

A disdain for women, a hatred of women, as a whole. Not mere sexism, but actual hate. They see woman as ''the enemy,'' and work to hurt them. It's a term that is often misused in our society, but that's actually what it truly means.

I can only think of one guy I know who has a real problem with women just because they're women.
He likes women, but he has a lot of conflicts with them, & believes the problem is caused by their
being women. (Of course, he is the problem.) I'd broaden "misogyny" to include him. Misogyny lite?
Why is he this way?
He tends to blame everyone else for all his problems in life.
He's always the victim (also of liberals, government, secularists, communists, & businessmen).

 

[shunyadragon]

This is also very interesting. I like these answers, because it really expands on the idea behind misogyny, not just where it might originate from.

Maybe the next question is...or maybe I meant to ask...how did misogyny become acceptable in our culture? Was that due to religion or can a man be born a misogynist? I think it's more of a nurture vs nature kind of thing.

I see no reason misogyny can be related to religion. By the evidence is simply the product male human nature, and the relationship with females. Some men feel the need to dominate and control women, and out of this comes negative attributes of maleness like misogyny.

The Baha'i teaching of the social. legal and spiritual equality, and acknowledging differences and roles of gender taught from an early age as possible should reduce negative attributes of gender issues.

 

[sayak83]

Do you think it's a byproduct of religion? I know atheists who are misogynists, but the argument still could be that the world culture is so steeped in religion and religious values, that it's hard to escape the misogyny that is buried deep within some of the religious tenets that permeate our cultures.

So, what do you think? Do you believe that misogyny comes from religion? If not, where did it come from? Are some men just born misogynists?

It comes originally from biology and mate competition and subsequently rationalized through much sophistry in religion, philosophy and tradition.

 

[Frater Sisyphus]

Depends what the personal situation is in particular:

• From a bad relationship with the (man's) mother
• From massive over confidence or intimidation from women
• It can stem from religious beliefs
• From sexual/masculine insecurities
• From trauma of childhood abuse (not uncommon but not as heard of)

And much more.

 

[Deidre]

Posts seem to be disappearing

lol I was posting in two threads at the same time, so the posts aren't missing. They're in the other thread omg

 

[Deidre]

Depends what the personal situation is in particular:

• From a bad relationship with the (man's) mother
• From massive over confidence or intimidation from women
• It can stem from religious beliefs
• From sexual/masculine insecurities
• From trauma of childhood abuse (not uncommon but not as heard of)

And much more.

I don't disagree, and I think many of our ''ailments'' come from our childhood traumas. But, is that where the actual concept started? Like is it something within us all, to ''hate'' if we're pushed too far from our childhoods, or is this type of thing ''created'' in society, somehow?

 

[sun rise]

To answer the OP: culture all over the world outside of some isolated areas has historically been male dominated. Now that women are throwing off that past and opening doors formerly closed to them, some men are threatened by this and react with hatred at their privileged position disappearing.

Patriarchal religion is part of the picture and can contribute although some religions and traditions have strong women such as Catholic saints, figures like Rabia of Basra, Mirabai and others in the East.

 

[Sha'irullah]

I do not think misogyny has anything to do with religion at all, I find it very innate in most cases and any notion of conditioning has never held up to scrutiny. I am often called a misogynist for my views about women and I guess by all modern definitions I am a misogynist but I am quite proud of it.

Archaic cultures did not in any capacity have the sort of equality we have now as equality is just inherently impractical in a society in a state of survival.

Simply put I am a strong proponent of misogyny. Just ask my fiancee, she will testify that misogyny is awesome! As I have said before a thousand times, there are only 2 genders: Male and sandwich-maker.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I'd be willing to bet that most of the time they were abused by a woman -- perhaps during childhood -- and weren't able to cope with the abuse in a manner that left them free of hatred, cynicism, and bitterness. But I also think there are a whole lot of misogynists who were never abused by any woman and are just immature babies who resent the fact women are usually in a position to deny them sex.

I'd probably take the bet. I think they're just as commonly abused by a man, and exposed to warped ideas of masculinity.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I do not think misogyny has anything to do with religion at all, I find it very innate in most cases and any notion of conditioning has never held up to scrutiny. I am often called a misogynist for my views about women and I guess by all modern definitions I am a misogynist but I am quite proud of it.

Archaic cultures did not in any capacity have the sort of equality we have now as equality is just inherently impractical in a society in a state of survival.

Simply put I am a strong proponent of misogyny. Just ask my fiancee, she will testify that misogyny is awesome! As I have said before a thousand times, there are only 2 genders: Male and sandwich-maker.

You hate your fiancee?

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Why do people hate snakes? Well maybe its because they think snakes can kill them but reality snakes can cure you. See, its the same thing. Women are doctors.

Its called selective perception error, meaning you are filtering what you see and hear to suit your own needs.

Are you suggesting that misogyny doesn't exist??

 

[Sha'irullah]

You hate your fiancee?

Well maybe I am literally madly in love .

I am just using the misappropriate term of the word misogyny and not the literal meaning of it. I have been called a misogynist for all sorts of things like wanting my girl to be a housewife.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Well maybe I am literally madly in love .

I am just using the misappropriate term of the word misogyny and not the literal meaning of it. I have been called a misogynist for all sorts of things like wanting my girl to be a housewife.

Ahhh...gotya.
That makes more sense.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

lol I was posting in two threads at the same time, so the posts aren't missing. They're in the other thread omg

Yeah, I was wondering about that

 

[Enoch07]

I think misogyny and misandry are both products of our environment. Both men and women can hate the other sex for a multitude of reasons, others have listed above. While some ideologies do encourage misogyny, ideologies unfortunately are not the sole culprit for either misogyny or misandry. It's a shame either exist at all.

 

[taykair]

"Where does misogyny come from?"

I don't know. But I wish it would go back to that place and stay there.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Do you think it's a byproduct of religion? I know atheists who are misogynists, but the argument still could be that the world culture is so steeped in religion and religious values, that it's hard to escape the misogyny that is buried deep within some of the religious tenets that permeate our cultures.

So, what do you think? Do you believe that misogyny comes from religion? If not, where did it come from? Are some men just born misogynists?

I love women! My Mom was one.

 

[Hockeycowboy]

Do you think it's a byproduct of religion? I know atheists who are misogynists, but the argument still could be that the world culture is so steeped in religion and religious values, that it's hard to escape the misogyny that is buried deep within some of the religious tenets that permeate our cultures.

So, what do you think? Do you believe that misogyny comes from religion? If not, where did it come from? Are some men just born misogynists?

No way! No one's ever born with hate! It's learned. The source could be religion -- depends on what the religion teaches -- or it could be from a person's home life experience. Shoot, it could be a combination of factors, that have influence on them!

It's rarely a single factor that leads to an extreme dysfunction.