Misogyny: how hate interferes with women’s role in society

Objectification, machismo, sexism, oppression and violence. These are some daily situations experienced by women. With significant effects of these cases on their lives and their roles in society, they have yet to face misogyny. This hatred coexists in many of these situations and is often the root of such problems. Below, learn more about this topic so debated by the feminist movement!

what is misogyny

Misogyny is the aversion or hatred towards women and feminine values. They are speeches, acts and measures that reinforce the superiority of men by despising women.

Cases of misogyny are constant, especially in politics – once an exclusively male stronghold. Sexist, sexist, hateful and even criminal comments are targeted and bombarded on social media by those women whose action gives power and notoriety to women’s issues.

They also present themselves in the form of jokes and sexual comments. In 2022, the speeches of federal deputy, Arthur do Val, objectifying Ukrainian women in the context of violations of fundamental rights are an example.

But the most aggressive form of misogyny is when it kills. According to the survey Violence Against Women in 2021, by the Brazilian Public Security Forum, there were 1319 deaths in that same year. During the pandemic there were 2451. The reason? Genre. But how does this hatred arise?

Where did misogyny come from?

Ancient Greece had a strong influence on Western political structures, including the social roles of men and women within the polis. With a society based on gender inequality and male sovereignty, misogyny was seen as a matter of course.

And to this day she is. Machismo and misogyny guarantee privileges to men in relation to women and their maintenance not only perpetuates these advantages but also guarantees a society that revolves around male conceptions, needs and ideals, making women participate in this system.

Bianca Cavalcante de Oliveira, a specialist in Women’s Law and Feminist Advocacy Practices, from the Escola Superior de Direito, explains that “precisely because women are part of a system managed and maintained by patriarchy, the tendency to reproduce sexist, sexist, misogynist, moral and conservative is constant.”

Bianca complements, saying that “therefore, conceptions previously implanted in the collective unconscious must be deconstructed and insist on the debate, in order to reverse speeches, behaviors and thoughts imposed by this system that daily oppresses us”.

The relationship between misogyny, machismo and sexism

While misogynists express disgust for women, sexists emphasize gender differences in society. For them, there is male sovereignty over the female in any situation. Meanwhile, the sexist exalts his own gender, male or female, at the expense of the other.

In other words, these behaviors discriminate against women by establishing specific social behavior patterns for each one. The objectification of women arises in this context, since it limits the female body to meet male expectations.

For Bianca, these three behaviors “are very important elements to sustain the logic of patriarchy, because they are means to delegitimize the presence, speech, autonomy, capacity and intelligence of women”.

Misogyny in Brazilian law

Law 13.642/18, also known as “Lei Lola”, created by federal deputy Luizianne Lins (PT-CE), assigns the federal police to investigate cases of misogyny on the internet. The bill 1960/21 of the same deputy seeks to typify misogyny as a crime of injury motivated by gender.

According to the lawyer, unlike the PL, the Lola Law does not criminalize misogyny on the internet – although it was a milestone when it approached the topic for the first time. Today, the judicial system only allows it to be “framed only as a crime of injury and/or psychological violence depending on the case”.

“The concept ‘misogyny’ can cause confusion and be interpreted in different ways by members of the judiciary, since in Brazil there is no legislation that defines the term”, says the professional.

But despite recognizing the need for measures to address the problem of spreading hate against women, Bianca does not see prison as an effective solution.

“It is known that no law brings benefits, if it is not accompanied by prevention and education practices for society and, of course, for those who apply the law”, he says. She adds that “there is no point in creating new laws to punish and incarcerate more and more if what really needs to be changed – in this case, education – is not”.

The consequences of misogyny on women’s lives

Bianca lists a series of negative effects of this behavior. In addition to motivating violence against women – physical, psychological, patrimonial, political, among others –, it also causes an increase in femicide and the feminization of poverty.

In addition, it also interferes in the work environment, promoting salary differences, moral and sexual harassment inside and outside that place and the precariousness of life.

All these situations are accompanied by sexist and sexist attitudes. Enjoy and deepen your knowledge in these terms, study about mansplaining and understand how this behavior can appear during your day.